Regulation | The Pump Handle

Cancer No avalanche, hardly even a snow flurry, of worker safety regulations in Labor Dept’s latest regulatory agenda

July 12, 2011 Celeste Monforton, DrPH, MPH 1Comment

If one listens to the speeches of many Republican members of Congress, especially those assigned to the House Education and Workforce Committee, you’d think the U.S. Department of Labor has unleashed an avalanche of new employment-related regulations that business must now meet. I heard one Hill staffer report on inquiries he receives from constituents who […]

Cancer Special interest groups and White House stalling worker safety rule

July 6, 2011 Celeste Monforton, DrPH, MPH 7Comment

During his first week in office, President Obama promised an Administration defined by “unprecedented level of openness…to ensure the public trust and establish a system of transparency, public participation, and collaboration.” But that’s not been the case when it comes to a draft worker safety rule developed by federal OSHA. Almost all the participation has […]

Environmental Health Did CDC ban those airline blankets?

June 28, 2011 Celeste Monforton, DrPH, MPH 6Comment

Within 15 minutes of my 6:00 am flight from Austin to Baltimore, I knew it was going to be a long, COLD, 3-hour trip. I’d already turned off the overhhad vents to stop the frigid air from blowing on me, and contorted myself into a ball on my seat trying to stay warm. As I […]

Cancer Speaking sensibly (and not) about public health regulations

June 23, 2011 Celeste Monforton, DrPH, MPH 1Comment

Rhetoric has been flying this year, especially in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives, about the “burdens” of federal regulations. Many of these members seem to despise EPA rules, CSPS rules, healthcare rules, and OSHA rules. Many of their talking points come from groups like the Heritage Foundation with their reports “Red Tape Rising: Obama’s Torrent […]

Cancer My prediction on the next worker safety regulatory agenda was way off

June 21, 2011 Celeste Monforton, DrPH, MPH

In a post on May 5, I predicted that Labor Secretary Hilda Solis would be publishing within a few days her semi-annual regulatory plan for new worker health and safety rules. I made that projection based on requirements in the Regulatory Flexibility Act and Executive Order 12866, which suggest these plans be published every April […]

Injury Control & Violence Still no day in court for worker safety violations at Crandall Canyon coal mine

June 17, 2011 Celeste Monforton, DrPH, MPH

NPR’s Howard Berkes reported this week on the disposition of criminal and civil charges stemming from the disaster nearly four years ago at the Crandal Canyon mine in Utah. The makings of the catastrophe began months earlier, (previous posts here, here, here) but came to a deadly denouement in the early morning hours of August […]

Addiction & Substance Abuse Third time’s the charm?: Passage of Texas Smoke-free Workplace Law down to the wire

June 17, 2011 The Pump Handle 2Comment

by Kim Krisberg Don’t mess with Texas. The iconic phrase was actually created as part of an anti-littering campaign more than 20 years ago, however it could be as easily applied to the state’s notorious anti-regulatory attitude and penchant for bucking convention. But despite its reputation, the Lone Star State is poised to join 29 […]

Environmental Health Republican candidates’ debate: rhetoric galore but short on policy details

June 14, 2011 Celeste Monforton, DrPH, MPH

When I decided yesterday to watch the Republican candidates debate, I created a scorecard to use while I observed the two-hour event. I was interested particularly in exchanges related to public health topics, such as access to health care, and clean air and safe drinking water. Within minutes of first tuning in, I remembered how […]

Environmental Health Words I’ll be listening for in tonight’s Republican debate

June 13, 2011 Celeste Monforton, DrPH, MPH 2Comment

Seven Republicans will meet tonight at St. Anselms college in Manchester, New Hampshire for a Presidential debate. The participants include both the declared candidates (Herman Cain, Newt Gingrich, Ron Paul, Tim Pawlenty, Mitt Romney, and Rick Santoroum) and likely candidate, Michele Bachman. Given that the event will take place in the St. Anselm Hawk’s hockey […]

Injury Control & Violence NBA players pay their fines for bad behavior, why doesn’t Notre Dame?

June 9, 2011 Celeste Monforton, DrPH, MPH 1Comment

During an National Basketball Association’s (NBA) Eastern Conference finals game last month, Chicago Bulls’ center Joakim Noah directed a homophobic slur toward a fan sitting behind him in the arena stands. The next day, the 26 year old former Florida Gator’s player emerged from a meeting with NBA officials and said he expected to “pay […]