NIOSH NTRC Examines Nanomaterials Explosivity
- With little known about the potential explosivity of any material when subdivided down to the nanoscale, the NIOSH Nanotechnology Research Center (NTRC) is studying the explosivity of several classes of nanoparticles.
- Nanoparticles are now being used in the manufacture of scratch proof eyeglasses, crack- resistant paints, anti-graffiti coatings for walls, transparent sunscreens, stain-repellent fabrics, self-cleaning windows and ceramic coatings for solar cells.
- The blog states that manufacturers, suppliers, and end-users should consider combustibility characteristics when working with nanomaterials to prevent explosions and keep workers safe.
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Positive Safety Climate Halves Cost to Businesses of Injuries: Study
- Finding an association between organizational factors and working time loss following workplace injury and illness could shift the focus in injury management strategies from the individual to the organization.
- That’s one of the main findings of an Australian study due to be published next month.
- What they call a “positive psychosocial safety climate,” can include safe and healthy working conditions for employees, supportive relationships with supervisors, and employers valuing workers’ skills.
- The researchers from the University of South Australia found that the average cost for lost-work injuries was more than the equivalent of $23,000 for “high positive psychosocial safety climate” organizations compared with more than $45,000 for their “very low” counterparts.
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Federal Chemical-Hazard Body Now Looking at Virginia Ammonia Leak
- The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board will investigate the root causes that resulted in the release of the hazardous substance last week in Virginia.
- As reported here on Friday, a suspected ammonia leak at Cuisine Solutions’ Sterling, Virginia facility, sent 33 people to the hospital with several in serious condition.
- The Virginia Occupational Safety and Health (VOSH) agency also opened an investigation.
- The sous vide manufacturer makes egg bite breakfast items sold at Starbucks, among other products.
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Visual Capitalist Sets Data Sights on ‘Most Dangerous Jobs’
- Popular data website Visual Capitalist featured December 2023 figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics to illustrate the country’s most dangerous jobs (see graphic above).
- The graphic visualizes the six occupations in the U.S. with the highest rates of fatal work injuries per 100,000 full-time workers, and their number of fatal work injuries in 2022.
- According to Similarweb, Visual Capitalist saw 13 million visitors to its website last month and is one of the top 2,000 U.S. websites.
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