Some U.S. workers are bringing toxins home to their kids
People who work with potentially hazardous chemicals or metals, such as lead, may unwittingly bring those toxic substances home, and such take-home exposures may fall into a regulatory blind spot, according to a new study by researchers at Boston University School of Public Health. Jobs in electronic recycling, agriculture, landscaping and construction are all associated with potential take-home exposures, the study finds. Moreover, even some jobs that appear low-risk, such as baking, can produce take-home exposures. U.S. News & World Report
Boise construction worker hospitalized after wall collapse
Fire crews rescued a construction worker who became trapped in a hole when a wall collapsed on a construction site near a downtown Boise, Idaho hospital Thursday morning. Idaho Statesman
Industrial processes that involve chromium can result in exposure to toxic hexavalent chromium. Many employees in a variety of occupations are potentially exposed to it. So what is hexavalent chromium, and who tends to be exposed to it? WGAL [with video]
Scientists, mine safety officials discuss black lung protections
Mine Safety and Health Administration officials met for the first time last week with miners’ health researchers, in a new partnership designed to discuss how to better protect coal miners from the dust that causes black lung disease. NIOSH researchers continue to track epidemic-levels of the disease among coal miners in Appalachia. West Virginia Public Broadcasting
The 10 biggest Fed-OSHA fines of 2019
Nine of the most expensive Fed-OSHA citations in 2019 included some kind of fall protection violation. One case resulted in nearly $1.8 million in fines. Construction Dive
ER nurse shines light on attacks by patients
According to Fed-OSHA, healthcare employees have a 20 percent higher chance of being a victim of workplace violence than other employees. Reports from Louisville University Medical Center over the last four years reveal hundreds of instances of hospital staff being physically, verbally and sexually assaulted. Some states have passed laws to make punishment more severe for assaults on nurses, and it’s a move one former combat medic and current nurse thinks could help in Kentucky. WDRB (Louisville, Ky.) [with video]
Florida roofer fined $17K related to lightning-related death
Fed-OSHA has issued more than $17,000 in penalties to a Florida roofing company after one of its employees fell to her death after being struck by lightning strike while working as part of a crew on top of a two-story townhome in Wellington last July. Palm Beach Post