Salon owner who defied governor’s fined by OR-OSHA
OR-OSHA has fined the owner of a Salem salon $14,000 for allegedly operating in defiance of the state’s business shutdown order. The owner asserts Oregon OSHA doesn’t have the authority to enforce the order at her salon because stylists working there are independent contractors, not employees, and that the agency is using a loophole to punish her. Salem Reporter
Fed-OSHA issues coronavirus workplace guidance to nursing homes
Fed-OSHA on Thursday issued its first workplace guidance to nursing homes since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, saying residents, staff and visitors should keep 6 feet apart, and that the facilities should screen residents and staff for symptoms and find alternatives to group activities. The agency did not recommend testing of residents or employees by nursing homes. WKZO (Kalamazoo, Mich.)
How to keep construction workers in compliance with PPE
How can construction and safety managers not only ensure employees wear the required personal protective equipment, but that they have the most up-to-date gear to maintain compliance? Safety manager John Meola, CSP, ARM, offers some tips. For Construction Pros
Chinese manufacturer denies sending counterfeit N95s to US
A Chinese manufacturer has denied responsibility for counterfeit N95 masks that arrived in the United States bearing the company’s name. The masks had ear loops instead of a band that stretches across the back of the head. Masks with ear loops are cheaper to produce than those with bands across the back of the head, but are not as effective in filtering out airborne particles. Newsweek [with video]
Testing whether uncertified N95 masks are effective
According to the NIOSH specification, N95 (and Chinese-certified KN95) masks should filter out at least 95 percent of particles of a certain size. A national shortage has led states to buy these masks from uncertified foreign producers or from producers that sell foreign-certified products. Lincoln Laboratory is part of a coalition working with the Massachusetts Manufacturing Emergency Response Team to test quality of respirators and materials that companies wish to use to make N95 masks. MedicalXpress
Fatal forklift incident at North Carolina distribution center
A forklift accident killed an employee at a Charlotte, North Carolina distribution center on Thursday. WWAY (Leland, N.C.)
Minnesota Department of Transportation receives federal aid for local safety improvements
The Minnesota Department of Transportation District 8, which covers southwest Minnesota, has been awarded $4.18 million from a federal-aid funding program designed to reduce traffic fatalities and serious injuries on all public roads, for five safety improvement projects. Hutchinson Leader