In the wake of the WV water contamination, the public dialogue revolves around the need for more information and disclosure about the potential health effects of toxic chemicals. A newish OSHA regulation does just the opposite for workers exposed to chemical hazards.
Environmental Health
Let’s not call it a “spill,” thousands of gallons of MCHM in water supply of 300,000 West Virginians
This is probably too much to hope: the water contamination emergency in WV be recognized as the latest example of the inadequacies in our nation’s policies on toxic chemicals.
It’s time for public institutions to set a high bar in selecting firms to provide them with goods and services. Off limits should be companies with repeat or willful violations of OSHA regulations.
Government
No tsunami of regulations, proposals to improve safety for miners languish in White House review
The Obama Administration continues to let proposals to improve worker safety waste away in internal review.
Cancer
Economists’ flawed argument on OSHA’s “flawed” analysis of proposed rule to protect silica-exposed workers
Two economists, funded by right-wing, university-housed think tanks, say OSHA’s proposed rule to protect silica-exposed workers is flawed, sloppy, weak and unsubstantiated. I can say the same for their analyses of OSHA’s work.
Food Safety & Nutrition
Democratic Senators eager to screw African-American and Hispanic poultry workers
It’s bad enough having President Obama and his USDA pushing a new poultry inspection process that will injure workers. Now we have seven Democratic Senators who are also eager to screw the workers.
An ER nurse’s observations about this year’s flu season.
Environmental Health
Flavoring chemicals may taste yummy but still damaging lungs of workers making food
A recently published study demonstrates (again) the serious risk to workers’ health when exposed to common food-flavoring agents. The risk has been known for more than a decade. It’s just another example of our ineffective systems for protecting workers, consumers and the environment from chemical hazards.
Food Safety & Nutrition
Poultry industry says it’s being “framed as poster boy for unsafe workplaces”
The poultry industry must have its head stuck in the chicken coop. With Thanksgiving nearly upon us, the industry is trying to convince the public that poultry-processing plants are great places to earn a living. The facts tell us something different.
My public health colleague, Adam Finkel, ScD, MPP, received the 2013 Alumni Leadership award from the Harvard School of Public Health. He challenges the assertion that scientists and researchers are supposed to be ‘neutral,’ not advocates.