Government | The Pump Handle

Environmental Health Congress and science: White House threatens to veto bills that would change EPA science advisory boards and limit EPA use of science

November 19, 2014 Elizabeth Grossman 7Comment

In action that may portend how the 114th Congress will treat science, the House has passed two bills that would limit the EPA’s use of science. The White House is threatening to veto both – and an additional bill that in the White House’s view could weaken the Clean Air Act’s public health and environmental protections.

California Occupational Health News Roundup

November 18, 2014 Kim Krisberg

New report chronicles the low wages of child care workers; Johns Hopkins black lung review still unfinished; California nurses go on strike; and OSHA calls on retailers to protect their workers during Black Friday.

California Study examines effects of San Francisco paid sick leave policy, finds low-wage workers especially benefited

November 14, 2014 Kim Krisberg

As paid sick leave policies gain momentum across the country, a new study finds that such policies do indeed improve worker morale and have little overall effect on employer profitability.

Government “We got the top dog”: Prosecutors indict former coal company CEO

November 14, 2014 Celeste Monforton, DrPH, MPH

Former Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship was indicated by federal prosecutors for events that led to the April 2010 death of 29 West Virginia coal miners.

Cancer New report: More action needed to protect salon workers’ health

November 12, 2014 Kim Krisberg

Decreased lung function, breast cancer, miscarriage, depression and neurological disease. These are just a few of the health and disease risks that salon workers disproportionately face while on the job, according to a new report on the impact of toxic chemicals within the beauty and personal care industry.

Government 50,000 US veterans are homeless

November 11, 2014 Celeste Monforton, DrPH, MPH 2Comment

The Obama Administration set a goal of ending homelessness among veterans in 2015. This Veterans’ Day, they are about 50,000 veterans away from that goal.

Environmental Health Listen in on small businesses discussing draft OSHA infection control regulation

November 10, 2014 Celeste Monforton, DrPH, MPH

A select group of small business representatives will meet with OSHA this week to discuss a possible new regulation to protect workers from infectious diseases. OSHA has been convening these panels since 1997, but it will be the first time that we’ll be able to listen in on the discussion.

California San Francisco women firefighters take part in first study on firefighting exposures and breast cancer

November 7, 2014 Kim Krisberg 2Comment

In the span of just a couple years, five of Heather Buren’s colleagues at the San Francisco Fire Department were diagnosed with breast cancer. At first, Buren thought the diagnoses were part of the unfortunate toll that comes with age. Still, something felt amiss — “it just felt so disproportionate to me,” she said.

Government Twice as many work-related skull fractures than government estimate

November 6, 2014 Celeste Monforton, DrPH, MPH

Michigan State University researchers Ken Rosenman, MD and Joanna Kica, MPA provide a reality check on the incidence of work-related skull fractures.

California Occupational Health News Roundup

November 4, 2014 Kim Krisberg

Dangerous workplace speedups a hidden side of the economic recovery; California recycling workers vote to unionize; emergency responders in west Texas face new challenges during energy boom; and the U.S. lags in eliminating the gender pay gap.