The criminal trial of former Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship went into its fifth week. Jurors heard from a veteran federal mine safety inspector, and a former MSHA ventilation expert who was hired by Massey to address safety problems.
Affordable Care Act
Public health researchers, activists gather for 143rd annual meeting: Highlights from Day 3
As “the water cooler for the public health crowd,” The Pump Handle is in Chicago reporting from the 143rd annual meeting of the American Public Health Association. Here are some highlights from yesterday’s events, including the intersection between social justice and public health, efforts by nurses in California to address work-related assaults, and community interventions to raise health babies.
APHA Annual Meeting
Public health researchers, activists gather for 143rd annual meeting: Highlights from Day 2
As “the water cooler for the public health crowd,” The Pump Handle is in Chicago reporting from the 143rd annual meeting of the American Public Health Association. Here are some highlights from yesterday’s events, including new policy statements adopted by the Association.
The criminal trial of former Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship went into its fourth week. Jurors heard from Chris Blanchard, the former president of Massey Energy’s Performance Coal Company about his and Blankenship’s oversight of the Upper Big Branch mine.
Food Safety & Nutrition
Eat chicken? Oxfam presses Tyson, Pilgrim’s, others to improve conditions for poultry workers
The anti-poverty group Oxfam America is urging consumers to tell the nation’s top poultry companies to improve conditions for poultry workers. Today the group released the report “Lives on the Line: the Human Cost of Cheap Chicken.”
Environmental Health
Worker center success: Houston workers organize for safer conditions at insulation plant
When Mirella Nava began her new job at Rock Wool Manufacturing Company in Houston, Texas, she had no intentions of becoming an advocate for worker safety. But when she witnessed how fellow workers were being treated and the dangerous work conditions they faced on a daily basis, she felt compelled to speak up.
The criminal trial of former Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship went into its third week. Jurors heard from a company president who was granted immunity in exchange for his testimony against Blankenship, as well as conflicting information about whether Blankenship was ever inside the Upper Big Branch mine.
Injury Control & Violence
Fatal work injury that killed Jeffrey Shannon was preventable, OSHA cites AECOM Technical Services
The fatal work-related injuries that killed Jeffrey Shannon could have been prevented had his employer followed worker safety regulations.
Environmental Health
Inspired by the modest mussel, scientists discover a naturally derived flame retardant
Flame retardants aren’t just found in your furniture. It’s likely you also have detectable amounts of the chemical in your body too, which is pretty worrisome considering the growing amount of research connecting flame retardants to serious health risks. Researchers have linked to the chemicals to reproductive health problems, adverse neurobehavioral development in kids, and endocrine and thyroid disruption. And so the question arises: Do the risks of today’s flame retardants outweigh the benefits?
Injury Control & Violence
Not an “accident”: Kenneth Schultz, 56, suffers fatal work-related injury in Oceanside, CA
This week’s snapshot of just one work-related fatality in the US. This one occurred on Tuesday, October 13 in Oceanside, CA