IOSH cites COVID-19 hazards inside Iowa capitol

Following inspections that took place between January and April, IOSH has cited the Iowa General Assembly for COVID-related violations, including lack of consistent social distancing between individuals, temperature checks and health screenings for the virus not being performed on all people entering the state capitol building, no requirement for employees to report a positive COVID-19 test result to leadership, and lack of identification if cases reported were work-related. KCRG

Comment period extended for HCS

Fed-OSHA has extended the comment period for the proposed revisions to the Hazard Communication Standard to May 19, 2021. All public comments originally were required to be submitted by April 19. Cleaning & Maintenance Management

South Carolina OSHA documents reveal violations at jobsite that had fatality

In the year and a half since the 2019 death of a facilities manager in a South Carolina grain bin, a S.C. OSHA investigation has cited his employer for several violations, including that the man was not equipped with a body harness and lifeline to prevent him from sinking into the grain and that an assistant manager was not trained in rescue procedures in the event of a grain bin engulfment. Records show the employee who entered the bin to attempt to rescue him did not wear a lifeline either. WBTW

New research finds chemical used in paint thinners caused more deaths than EPA identified

Methylene chloride, a chemical found in paint strippers, is associated with more deaths than previously thought, according to research published this week in JAMA Internal Medicine. While the Environmental Protection Agency, which banned the commercial sale of the compound in 2019 after years of pressure from consumer safety advocates, has acknowledged the compound was tied to 53 deaths between 1980 and 2018, the study indicated 85 deaths tied to it during the same time frame. Of those, 87 percent occurred in workplaces. The Hill

Hoosier Energy offering free OSHA safety training to employees

Bloomington, Indiana-based Hoosier Energy will offer complimentary OSHA safety training to employees at each of its 18 member co-ops in May. The four-day course covers a variety of topics including introduction to OSHA, managing safety and health, fall protection, emergency action plans, electrical safety and personal protective equipment. Members of the public may participate but will be charged a fee for the training. RE Journals