Regulation | The Pump Handle

Environmental Health Beware of Congressmen who claim they are cutting red tape, health and safety protections are on the chopping block

September 26, 2011 Celeste Monforton, DrPH, MPH 1Comment

Funny how a bill touted by Members of Congress as one that will “cut red tape” will actually add a dozen new steps before a rule to protect people’s health or safety is put in place. Last week, several Republican and Democratic Senators and Representatives did just that when they introduced the “Regulatory Accountability Act” […]

Injury Control & Violence New rules proposed to protect minors working in agriculture

September 8, 2011 Celeste Monforton, DrPH, MPH 5Comment

After two teenagers’ legs were severed while they were working near a grain auger, I wrote last month about the White House’s role in holding up a proposed Labor Department rule to address hazards for young workers. After a 9-month delay by the White House, the Labor Department released the proposed rule last week and […]

Environmental Health White House’s ozone edict tells EPA to break the law

September 6, 2011 Celeste Monforton, DrPH, MPH 1Comment

Last Friday when the White House told Environmental Protection Agency administrator Lisa Jackson to drop her plans to revise the national ambient standard for ozone, it seemed like just another example of President Obama caving to business interests. Others were quick to remind me though that bowing to business is not the half of it: […]

Environmental Health The truth about health, safety and environmental regulations

August 31, 2011 Celeste Monforton, DrPH, MPH

In a week that House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) rallied his Members with a plan to repeal “job-destroying regulations,” the Center for Progressive Reform (CPR) provides strong evidence to debunk the House Republican’s rhetoric. In “Saving Lives, Preserving the Environment, Growing the Economy: The Truth about Regulation,” CPR scholars provide concrete examples of profound […]

OSHA Worker safety rulemaking 101, Part 2

August 24, 2011 Celeste Monforton, DrPH, MPH 1Comment

The process of putting a new federal regulation in place to protect individuals from serious hazards at work often takes five or more years. Part 1 of “Worker safety rulemaking” described the steps leading up to OSHA proposing a new rule, to the point where the agency’s chief decides whether to send the draft proposed […]

OSHA What new rule did OSHA issue this month? Worker safety rulemaking 101, Part 1

August 22, 2011 Celeste Monforton, DrPH, MPH 5Comment

I recently heard an individual who works on Capitol Hill describe the kinds of questions he receives from congressional offices. One that made me laugh out loud was: “What new regulations did OSHA issue this month?” This month? Entire years go by without a single new worker safety regulation, and those that are issued typically […]

Injury Control & Violence Two weeks after grain auger disaster, vigil continues for two 17 year old workers

August 18, 2011 Celeste Monforton, DrPH, MPH 3Comment

The two 17 year old workers who were entangled two weeks ago in a grain auger remain hospitalized in the OU Medical Center in Oklahoma City. Family and friends of Bryce Gannon, 17 and Tyler Zander, 17 created a Facebook page, “Prayers for Bryce and Tyler,” that provides a glimpse of the long road of […]

Injury Control & Violence Legs of two 17 year olds severed in grain auger, White House sits on young worker safety rule

August 11, 2011 Celeste Monforton, DrPH, MPH 2Comment

[Update 8/15/2011 below] Tyler Zander, 17 and Bryce Gannon, 17 were working together on Thursday, August 4 at the Zaloudek Grain Co. in Kremlin, Oklahoma. They were operating a large floor grain aguer when something went terribly wrong. Oklahoma’s News9.com reports that Bryce Gannon’s legs became trapped in the auger, Tyler Zander went to his […]

Cancer No matter what mining industry reps say, MSHA’s proposed rule to address black lung is easily achievable

July 19, 2011 Celeste Monforton, DrPH, MPH 1Comment

Thanks to Ken Ward at Coal Tatto for alerting me to a hearing conducted last week in the House Subcommittee on Regulatory Affairs, Stimulus Overight and Government Spending, of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform called “EPA’s Appalachian Energy Permitorium: Job Killer or Job Creator?” The majoirity of the witnesses were at the ready […]

Food Safety & Nutrition What’s so big about the US government?

July 18, 2011 Liz Borkowski, MPH 6Comment

As debt-ceiling negotiations continue and members of both parties express a desire for “leaner” government, James Kwak at The Atlantic offers an important reminder: Measuring the size of the US government by how much money it spends can be misleading. Social Security and Medicare, both of which are extremely popular, account for a huge chunk […]