Workplace fatalities rose in Arkansas last year
A new report supported by the Arkansas Department of Labor finds private employers in the state reported 25,100 non-fatal injuries and illnesses in 2020, up from 19,100 in 2019. The estimates were obtained through the annual Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses. 5News (Fayetteville, Ark.)
Wisconsin: Recycling company fined $90K for mishandling hazardous waste
A Madison, Wisconsin-area company has been fined $90,000 for hazardous waste violations at a facility where employees were exposed to mercury. State officials say the company operated an unlicensed hazardous waste facility, disposed of hazardous waste at an unlicensed landfill, and mishandled mercury-laden waste. Madison.com
Maine: Carbon monoxide leak at Portland food pantry sickens 3
A carbon monoxide leak, likely from a forklift, sickened three people at a Portland, Maine food pantry last Wednesday. Firemen who responded measured levels of the odorless gas in the building up to about 400 parts per million; Fed-OSHA limits exposure to 50 parts per million averaged over eight hours. Portland Press Herald
U.S. Department of Labor has created a public service announcement on trench safety. Kansas City Star [with video]
Fed-OSHA withdraws COVID-19 healthcare ETS
Fed-OSHA has announced it is withdrawing most of the Emergency Temporary Standard for healthcare employers (Healthcare ETS) it promulgated more than six months ago, although it did not not withdraw recordkeeping provisions requiring COVID-19 logs and case reportswrite a group of Jackson Lewis P.C. attorneys. JD Supra
Oregon nurses union upset Fed-OSHA allowed COVID-19 safety rules to expire
The Oregon Nurses Association has expressed its disappointment that Fed-OSHA has failed to adopt a permanent standard covering healthcare employees during COVID-19. The group’s complaints include that Oregon OSHA’s safety standard fails to provide paid time off when frontline healthcare employees contract COVID-19 at work. KTVZ