Florida roofer’s 19th Fed-OSHA fine since 2014 slashed by $54K
A Florida roofer with a history of safety citations will pay far less than the nearly $135,000 in fines originally proposed by Fed-OSHA for fall-protection violations issued in connection with employees working on a 10-foot roof. Miami Herald [with audio]
VA lacks PPE needed to handle possible second wave
The Department of Veterans Affairs currently has a 30-day supply of personal protective equipment, but it’s not enough to safely support a resurgence of COVID-19, Richard Stone, executive-in-charge of the Veterans Health Administration, told the Senate VA committee Tuesday. Federal News Network
Dr. Birx says protests have destroyed dozens of testing sites
On a conference call with governors on Monday, Dr. Deborah Birx warned that 70 coronavirus testing sites had been destroyed amid widespread protests in the wake of the death of George Floyd. Additionally, Texas, California, Oregon, North and South Carolina, Mississippi, Utah, Arkansas, and Arizona have experienced sharp increases in hospitalizations since Memorial Day weekend. National Review
FDA: Not all N95 respirators eligible for decontamination and reuse
Decontamination of respirators is an issue that cropped up as a result of the shortage of N95 as the number of COVID-19 patients surged. Decontamination works for some of N95 respirators, but not all, according to the Food and Drug Administration in an emergency use authorization. Infection Control Today
Are exoskeletons the X factor for industrial workers?
Exoskeletons, which were developed for the military, are an emerging technology, but some corporations are testing and deploying exoskeletons, with the aim of protecting warehouse and manufacturing workers from bad backs, shoulders and neck injuries related to heavy and repetitive lifting. Modern Materials Handling
To be recordable, an incident must be work-related and result in death, loss of consciousness, days away from work, restricted work activities, a job transfer or medical treatment beyond first aid. When is medical treatment received beyond first aid? Here are some scenarios. Supply House Times
Fed-OSHA issues FAQ on face coverings
Fed-OSHA has issued new guidance that discusses differences between cloth face coverings, surgical masks and respirators, and further reminds employers not to use surgical masks or cloth face coverings when respirators are needed. Contractor