Archive for October 2020
Confidential coronavirus outbreak data shows undisclosed incidents
Newly obtained confidential statewide data shows that coronavirus outbreaks in workplaces, schools and prisons are driving Illinois’ rising cases — and many of these outbreaks have never been made public, according to National Public Radio Illinois. Illinois surpassed 300,000 confirmed cases this past weekend and recorded its highest daily death count since late June on Friday.…
Read MoreThe pandemic likely would have overwhelmed OSHA no matter what
osha has a budget less than a tenth the size of the Environmental Protection Agency’s. Limited resources, meek penalties, and fierce opposition from business interests have long inhibited osha’s ability to address the unsafe conditions that lead to the deaths of some five thousand workers on the job annually, with injuries sustained by nearly three million more,…
Read MoreMcDonald’s pushes sustainability initiatives to the forefront
McDonald’s is making moves to stay sustainable. The giant fast-food franchise recently teamed up with The Nature Conservancy, Cargill and Target to invest in a more sustainable beef supply chain. It’s also partnering with New Jersey-based TerraCycle to test out a zero-waste solution for cups. “To secure a thriving food system for future generations, McDonald’s and the…
Read MoreSustainability experts welcome Apple’s move to scrap iPhone accessories, call for more action on e-waste
Apple’s decision to remove the charger and headphones from iPhone 12 boxes has generally been well received by environmentalists, although the tech giant has been pressed to go much further in reducing its impact on the environment. Apple announced Tuesday that all of the four upcoming iPhone 12 models will not include a charging adaptor or the…
Read MoreAmazon workers stage vigil at Jeff Bezos’ Beverly Hills mansion
The warehouse worker organizer decried the world’s richest man for profiting off laborers and contributing to income inequality as a small crowd lined up along Angelo Drive in Beverly Hills. Behind him, the green expanse of a massive hedge and a pitch-black steel gate towered over, hiding Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos’ $165 million mansion from…
Read MoreReport: OSHA has resolved only 2% of reports of retaliation against COVID whistleblowers
The National Employment Law Project (NELP) report’s findings highlight how OSHA is handling reports of retaliation against COVID whistleblowers. The NELP analyzed OSHA’s public data on the 1,744 COVID-19-related retaliation complaints filed by workers from the beginning of the pandemic through August 9. The report found that over half of the complaints – 54% –…
Read MoreAIHA launches site on OEHS career opportunities
AIHA, an association of occupational and environmental health and safety (OEHS) professionals, has launched a new website (https://oehscareers.org/) for students, teachers, and counselors promoting career options in the field. The group, previously known as the American Industrial Hygiene Association, pointed out in its website announcement that the average starting salary for young OEHS professionals, including industrial hygienists,…
Read MoreConsider a ‘pandemic pod’ as seasons change
As the seasons shift, the temperature drops and the days get shorter. Outdoor activities are harder to come by as the cool air and decreased sunlight cause people to drift indoors, according to news from Indiana University. That’s an expected part of the calendar this time of the year for most of us, but it…
Read MoreOSHA issues additional COVID-19 FAQs
The new FAQs help employers apply the agency’s existing injury and illness recording and reporting requirements to the coronavirus. OSHA has published additional frequently asked questions and answers (FAQs) regarding the need to report employees’ in-patient hospitalizations and fatalities resulting from work-related cases of the coronavirus. OSHA’s new FAQs provide information to help employers apply the agency’s…
Read MoreEPA seeks to speed up long-lasting coronavirus disinfectants
EPA has announced a faster process for approving new products that can keep surfaces clean of the coronavirus for several days and could result in chemical companies getting products onto the market faster, according to Bloomberg Law. Products that make claims of long-term effectiveness will move “to the front of the line” for agency review…
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