Fed-OSHA cites railcar company after two employees die

Fed-OSHA has cited a Texas-based company for failure to require a permit to allow entry, ventilate the space, or monitor hazards inside a confined space after two Oklahoma employees died after entering a natural gas railcar. The second employee entered the car in an attempt to rescue the first employee, and also was overcome. KFOR (Oklahoma City)

Man electrocuted while trimming trees at Fort Lauderdale home

A man who was working on landscaping outside of a Fort Lauderdale, Florida home was electrocuted last week when his tree trimming pole apparently hit a live wire. He was standing on the ladder when the electric current passed through his body, an official says. Local 10 (Miami)

South Florida construction worker killed by falling beam

A construction worker was killed when a beam fell on top of him in Oakland Park, Florida on Thursday, when it somehow became dislodged and fell on him as he was welding it. NBC Miami [with video]

Proposed updates to HCS will include particle characteristics

Fed-OSHA is scheduled to publish a notice of proposed rulemaking February 16 that would modify the Hazard Communication Standard to conform to the United Nations’ Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals Revision 7. The NPRM states that in addition to directly enhancing worker protections through improved hazard communication, updating the HCS will also improve the availability of information to support larger efforts to address workplace hazards such as the use of aggregate exposures and cumulative risk models for use in setting occupational exposure limits and assessing impacts on worker health, according to two attorneys with Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. JD Supra

Sanitary best practices for employers before employees return to the office

Question: What are the main health and sanitation issues an organization needs to think about before it brings lots of employees back to the office or other locations? Hawaii Business Magazine

Maine bought over 2M potentially counterfeit masks

Maine officials reportedly purchased more than 2 million potentially counterfeit N95 respirators that are now part of a nationwide recall and replacement effort, and 161,000 of them have been distributed to school nurses, health care facilities and state employees since November. The recall notice is specific to blue, medical-grade 3M respirator models 1860 and 1860S. The masks must be individually fitted and are intended for personnel such as nurses or doctors and are not generally made available to the public. Sun Journal