Arizona VA hospital cited after attack on nurse
Fed-OSHA earlier this year cited the Northern Arizona VA Health Care System, where a 43-year-old nurse was punched in the face by a patient two years ago. The investigation confirmed many of the nurse’s allegations that the hospital was a dangerous work environment for her and her colleagues. azcentral
Fed-OSHA signals regulatory priorities in fall agenda
The Fall 2019 Unified Agenda of Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions, which lays out the regulatory priorities of over 60 federal agencies, departments, and commissions for the next 12 months, includes 19 agenda items specific to Fed-OSHA. One is a plan to initiate a Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act review panel next month for a standard that would address workplace violence in the healthcare and social services industries. National Law Review
Five hospitalized after carbon monoxide leak in Massachusetts
Five people were hospitalized in Salem, Massachusetts and hundreds were evacuated Wednesday after high levels of carbon monoxide were detected at an electronics manufacturing company. A fire official said the company’s manufacturing processes include breaking down ammonia into hydrogen, and investigators were looking into these processes as a possible source of the leak. Salem News
Fed-OSHA fines railcar services company more than $551K related to asphyxiation
Fed-OSHA has has fined a railcar maintenance company more than $551,000 in connection with the death of a 29-year-old employee who was asphyxiated while servicing a rail car containing crude oil sludge in late May. The citations relate to confined space hazards. Citizen’s Voice
Man killed in wood chipper accident at Mississippi plywood mill
A Louisville, Mississippi plywood mill employee died last week in an apparent industrial accident while working on a wood chipping machine. A law enforcement officer said debris may have been a factor in the accident. Fed-OSHA is expected to investigate. WCBI [with video]
CDC and ASA to design online event for International Year of Sound 2020
For the International Year of Sound 2020 (#IYS2020), the Acoustical Society of America and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health are designing an online event intended to facilitate the improvement of Wikipedia content in topics related to acoustics, communication, music, noise and soundscapes. News-Medical
Texas county ends voluntary evacuation after plant explosion
The city of Port Neches and Jefferson County, Texas lifted a voluntary evacuation order last week, less than 24 hours after residents who were displaced following a fire and explosions at a nearby chemical plant were again asked to leave their homes. The evacuation order was issued because winds and high humidity in the area were expected to keep vapors near the ground. Texas Tribune