Indiana restaurants fined for not reporting fatal shootings
Indiana OSHA has fined two Gary pizza restaurants for failing to report the on-the-job shooting deaths of two delivery drivers during armed robberies last year. Washington Times
Michigan: Paper plant employee recovering after partial hand amputation
An employee of a Sparta, Michigan waxed paper manufacturer is recovering after her hand was partially amputated while working last Monday. Fed-OSHA is investigating. Mlive
Snowplow accident results in death of Wisconsin employee
An employee was killed last week at a Prentice, Wisconsin company when he was struck by a snowplow operated by another employee. Fed-OSHA is investigating. Price County Review
Fed-OSHA amends, corrects more than two dozen standards
Fed-OSHA recently published technical corrections and amendments to 27 standards and regulations. The administrative rulemaking corrects minor misprints, omissions, outdated references, and tabular and graphic inaccuracies and applies to industry sectors including general industry, construction, shipyard employment, and longshoring. Powder & Bulk Solids
NIOSH blogs on workplace nano- and microplastics
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health has posted a Science Blog item that reviews workplace exposure to microplastics and nanoplastics and provides examples of inhalation exposure, including from environmental degradation of plastic goods and degradation of carpets and other synthetic fiber products. NIOSH says that in the absence of occupational exposure limits for nano- and microplastics, workplace safety efforts should focus on minimizing potential exposure through engineering controls like isolation cabinets, exhaust ventilation, and good industrial hygiene. National Law Review
Minnesota bill would provide hundreds of thousands in farm safety grants
According to the Centers for Disease Control, rollover situations are the leading cause of fatalities on farms. Minnesota state legislators have introduced a bill to provide grants for farmers and schools to upgrade equipment for safety. Farmers also can apply for grants covering up to 75 percent or $500,000 of documented costs spent on grain bin safety equipment. Austin Daily Herald
Since June, there have been nine deaths and three rescues in Minnesota grain bins and silos. However, because all of the accidents occurred on small farms, there was no state or federal investigation into any of the cases. Researchers at Purdue University say initial numbers indicate Minnesota is leading the nation in farm accidents this year. KMSP (Eden Prairie, Minn.)