Regulation | The Pump Handle

Education Study: Despite health risks tied to industrial food animal production, health departments have little involvement

February 8, 2013 The Pump Handle 2Comment

A couple years ago, two public health researchers attended a hearing about the possible expansion of an industrial food animal production facility. During the hearing, a community member stood up to say that if the expansion posed any hazards, the health department would surely be there to protect the people. The two researchers knew that probably wasn’t the case.

Injury Control & Violence New report confirms Texas’ abysmal record on construction worker safety

February 1, 2013 The Pump Handle 5Comment

Texas may boast a booming construction sector, but a deeper look reveals an industry filled with wage theft, payroll fraud, frighteningly lax safety standards, and preventable injury and death. In reality, worker advocates say such conditions are far from the exception — instead, they’ve become the norm.

Injury Control & Violence Repeat violators of mine safety rules targeted in new Labor Dept regulation

January 23, 2013 Celeste Monforton, DrPH, MPH 1Comment

The Labor Department’s MSHA issued a new regulation this week targeting employers that have an egregious pattern of violating mine safety and health standards.

Cancer New, first-of-its-kind Canadian study to chronicle the impact of occupational cancers

January 14, 2013 The Pump Handle

Dr. Paul Demers says he frequently finds himself having to make the case for why studying workplace exposures to carcinogens is important. Oftentimes, he says, people believe such occupational dangers are a thing of the past. But a new four-year study he’s leading could change all that.

Injury Control & Violence Concealed handguns study takes a different approach to measuring risk

January 11, 2013 The Pump Handle 2Comment

Amidst discussions of new gun control measures, a study finds that adding new settings where people can bring concealed weapons could increase the risk of some crimes.

Cancer Delays continue in Obama Administration on new worker safety protections

January 8, 2013 Celeste Monforton, DrPH, MPH

With five days left in calendar year 2012, the Obama Administration released its current regulatory plan and agenda, including new rules addressing health and safety hazards in workplaces. Neither OSHA nor MSHA have a good track record predicting when such rules will actually be completed.

Food Safety & Nutrition USDA’s focus should be food safety, not increasing profit for poultry industry

December 18, 2012 Celeste Monforton, DrPH, MPH 1Comment

McClatchy Newspapers’ reporter Lindsay Wise reports in two new articles on a proposed USDA rule to allegedly “modernize” the poultry inspection process. USDA and the poultry industry are having a love fest over the proposal, but food safety and workers’ safety advocates oppose the rule. The White House will soon be deciding the rule’s fate.

Environmental Health New DOT policy promises better health and safety protections for flight attendants

December 10, 2012 Celeste Monforton, DrPH, MPH

After three decades, the FAA has finally acknowledged that its regulations to protect the health and safety of flight attendants are not adequate. A new policy—barring major objections from the airlines—-will extend OSHA protections to airline flight attendants.

Injury Control & Violence First-of-its-kind survey compiles the experience of domestic workers, highlights the grim nature of an unregulated industry

December 7, 2012 The Pump Handle 2Comment

The collective experience of domestic workers — house cleaners, nannies and caregivers — often remains hidden from view. But a new survey has pulled back the curtain on the conditions and experiences domestic workers face, documenting issues such as wage exploitation, preventable on-the-job injuries and the little — if any — power domestic workers have in improving their work environments.

Drug Safety Public health takes on the opioid abuse and overdose problem, building on strengths as conveners, educators

November 30, 2012 The Pump Handle 2Comment

A decade ago, only about 10 percent of the patients at Cincinnati’s Center for Chemical Addictions Treatment were admitted for opioid addiction and abuse. During the treatment center’s last fiscal year, that number was up to 64 percent. The numbers reflect a startling trend in Ohio and throughout the nation — a trend that public health workers are taking to task.

Liz Borkowski, MPH	Celeste Monforton, DrPH,
Kim Krisberg	Garrett Brown