Government | The Pump Handle

Consumer Product Safety Commission Chemicals in commerce: Will industry-promoted legislation undermine existing laws?

March 11, 2014 Elizabeth Grossman 3Comment

While the Senate is pressing the EPA to prevent future chemical disasters, legislation has been introduced in Congress that would, if enacted, make it harder for the public to obtain information about chemical hazards, either in industrial storage tanks or consumer products. While state and local governments – and many manufacturers – are responding to growing public is demand for safer chemicals and more information about chemicals used in products – industry trade associations are promoting legislation that appears to counter that progress.

Cancer Will farm workers be better protected? EPA proposes new pesticide protection standards but farm worker advocates see some steps backward

March 3, 2014 Elizabeth Grossman

“For us it’s personal,” said Jeannie Economos, Farmworker Association of Florida Pesticide Safety and Environmental Health Project Coordinator. “It’s a daily issue for us. Every day with a weaker protection standard is another day a worker is exposed to pesticides,” she said. On February 20th the EPA proposed revisions to its Worker Protection Standard for agricultural pesticides. Farm worker advocates are welcoming the proposal – the first update since 1992 – but see both improvements and what some are calling “steps backward.”

Government Study: Mental health impact of foreclosure ripples throughout communities

February 28, 2014 Kim Krisberg

It’s probably no surprise that people who experienced foreclosures during the Great Recession may have also experienced symptoms of depression. However, researchers have found that the mental health effects of foreclosure go beyond the individual to the community at-large.

Food Safety & Nutrition Poultry workers appeal to White House, USDA must abandon new poultry slaughter rule

February 27, 2014 Celeste Monforton, DrPH, MPH 2Comment

The Obama Administration still has time to abandon its ill-conceived new regulation on poultry inspection. We’ll see if the Administration decides to treat poultry workers better than the firms that employ them.

Environmental Health Stopping chemical catastrophes: Can we do better than calling for stronger storage tanks?

February 25, 2014 Elizabeth Grossman

More than a month after the Freedom Industries chemical spill in West Virginia, it remains unclear if Charleston’s water is truly safe to drink and what the health consequences of exposure to these chemicals may be. Legislation has been introduced that calls for more inspections, better tank construction, overflow containment and emergency response. But why not go beyond and also call for safer chemistry?

Government Industry has abandoned the dangerous practice; let’s seal the deal with an OSHA regulation

February 24, 2014 Celeste Monforton, DrPH, MPH

OSHA says that the power-generation industry has abandoned a deadly practice that led to the February 2010 death of six Connecticut workers. It’s not a heavy lift for OSHA to prohibit the practice once and for all.

Government When employers are reckless with workers’ lives, they have no right to remain in business

February 17, 2014 Celeste Monforton, DrPH, MPH 1Comment

A 32 year old worker was killed because a machine safeguard had been disabled. His employer had a pattern of reckless behavior, and should not have a license to kill.

Education Study: Economic burden of West Nile virus estimated at $778 million

February 14, 2014 Kim Krisberg 2Comment

Most people infected with mosquito-borne West Nile virus don’t experience any symptoms at all. However, the tiny percentage of cases that do end up in the hospital total hundreds of millions of dollars in medical costs and lost productivity.

Cancer American Cancer Society & AMA weigh in on OSHA silica rule

February 13, 2014 Celeste Monforton, DrPH, MPH 1Comment

The American Cancer Society (ACS) and the American Medical Association (AMA) have endorsed OSHA’s regulatory efforts to prevent silica-related disease.

Affordable Care Act Massachusetts study: High demand for publicly funded family planning services, despite near universal insurance

February 7, 2014 Kim Krisberg 3Comment

Higher insurance rates don’t mean people stop seeking care at publically funded health centers, found a recent study of family planning clinics in Massachusetts. The findings speak to serious concerns within public health circles that policy-makers may point to higher insurance rates as a justification to cut critical public health funding.