Tag

Occupational Safety

All articles tagged with #occupational safety

health1 year ago•4 min saved

"Bird Flu Fears Boost Vaccine Production and Biotech Stocks"

The US and European nations are considering vaccinating poultry and dairy workers, veterinarians, and lab technicians against the H5N1 bird flu to prevent a potential pandemic. Efforts include acquiring or manufacturing vaccines from companies like CSL Seqirus and GSK. The move follows the spread of a new bird flu strain that has affected wild birds, domestic poultry, and mammals, including dairy cattle in the US. Health officials are in discussions about the strategic deployment of these vaccines to curb the virus's spread and mutation.

via Reuters.com|

#bird-flu #health #occupational-safety

labor-rights1 year ago•9 min saved

"Florida Governor DeSantis Blocks Heat Protections for Workers, Despite Opposition"

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a law preventing cities and counties from implementing heat protections for outdoor workers, despite the state's extreme heat conditions. This move has sparked outrage among workers and activists, who have long advocated for regulations ensuring paid rest breaks, water, and access to shade. The new law, which comes at a time of increasing heat risks due to climate change, has drawn criticism for prioritizing predictability over worker safety and blocking local efforts to protect workers from heat-related illnesses and fatalities.

via NPR|

#florida #heat-protections #labor-rights

workplace-safety1 year ago•3 min saved

OSHA Fines Company for Fatal Forklift Incident at Logan Airport

An OSHA inspection found that a forklift incident at Boston's Logan Airport, resulting in the death of a worker, could have been prevented by the employer, Oxford Airport Technical Services. The inspection revealed several safety violations, including failure to ensure seatbelt usage, inadequate training for forklift operators, and failure to inspect and remove damaged forklifts from service. OSHA issued four serious citations against the company with proposed penalties.

via WCVB Boston|

#forklift-incident #logan-airport #occupational-safety

workplace-safety2 years ago•1 min saved

Tragic Accident: Employee Fatally Crushed in North Carolina Car Wash Machinery

A 26-year-old employee, Carolina “Brea” Franks, was tragically crushed to death after getting trapped in equipment at a North Carolina car wash. Franks, who had been working at the car wash for about five months, was pronounced dead at the scene. The North Carolina Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health is investigating the incident, and the car wash company, Zips Car Wash, is cooperating with the investigation while the Weaverville location remains closed.

via New York Post |

#car-wash #investigation #north-carolina

labor-rights2 years ago•8 min saved

Underage Worker Tragically Killed in Poultry Plant Mishap with False Identity

A 16-year-old employee at a Mississippi poultry plant died after being sucked into equipment, and it was revealed that he had obtained the job using the identity of a 32-year-old man. This incident highlights the ease with which migrant children are finding work in dangerous industries and the challenges companies face in verifying their true ages. The number of children working illegally has nearly doubled since 2019, with ongoing child labor investigations across industries. Mar-Jac Poultry, the company involved, blamed a staffing agency for the hiring of the teenager. The Labor Department is investigating the hiring of the minor and the accident itself, while the Department of Homeland Security is supporting the investigation. Other companies, including Tyson Foods and Perdue Farms, are also under investigation for alleged child labor violations.

via Yahoo News|

#child-labor #identity-theft #labor-rights

labor-rights2 years ago•8 min saved

Underage Worker's Tragic Death Exposes Shocking Case of Identity Fraud in Poultry Plant

via Yahoo Finance|

#child-labor #identity-theft #labor-rights

health-and-safety2 years ago•4 min saved

"Protecting Workers: Safeguarding Against the Hazards of Engineered Stone Countertops"

Silicosis, a lung disease caused by exposure to crystalline silica, is affecting young workers, particularly Latino immigrants, who are exposed to silica dust when cutting and grinding engineered stone countertops. Consumers can help address the issue by questioning safety standards used by manufacturers and opting for alternative countertop materials. Researching the product's impact on workers and choosing fabrication shops that sell refurbished countertops can also make a difference. Consumer demand can drive improvements in product safety and encourage stronger safety enforcement.

via AOL|

#consumer-awareness #engineered-stone #health-and-safety

health2 years ago•2 min saved

"High-Risk Industries: A Closer Look at Drug Overdose Fatalities Among Workers"

According to new data from the CDC, Americans working in construction, food preparation, personal care, service, and transportation occupations were most likely to die from drug overdoses during the COVID-19 pandemic. The report also found that the drug overdose death rate in 2021 was 50% higher than in 2019. Construction workers were four times more likely to die from drug overdoses compared to the general population. The study attributes the higher mortality rates to factors such as workplace injuries, work-related stress, and limited access to healthcare benefits. The drugs most commonly involved in overdose cases were synthetic opioids.

via USA TODAY|

#cdc #construction-workers #covid-19-pandemic

health-and-safety2 years ago•3 min saved

"California Implements Safety Measures to Protect Countertop Makers from Lung Damage"

California is taking action to protect workers in the countertop industry, particularly those who work with quartz, from developing silicosis, an irreversible lung disease caused by breathing in silica dust. The state has identified 77 sickened workers, with at least ten deaths and the need for lung transplants. The majority of affected workers are young Spanish-speaking Latino men who have emigrated from Central America. California's Occupational Safety & Health Standards Board is fast-tracking the development of new regulations to prevent dust inhalation, and the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors is considering a ban on quartz countertops. Experts warn that this issue is not limited to California and estimate that around 100,000 people work in this industry across the United States.

via NPR|

#california #countertop-workers #health-and-safety

labor-rights2 years ago•6 min saved

"Extreme Heat Exposes Outdoor Workers to Few Legal Protections: New Rules Implemented"

Texas construction workers are set to lose their right to rest breaks as a new law, HB 2127, takes effect on September 1. The law, signed by Governor Greg Abbott, overturns local ordinances in cities like Austin and Dallas that mandate regular rest breaks for construction workers. This comes as Texas experiences a record-breaking heat wave, with temperatures reaching 105 degrees or more for 11 consecutive days in Austin. Advocates warn that the lack of rest breaks poses serious health risks for workers, as heat-related incidents and deaths are already a concern in the state. Critics argue that the law undermines worker safety and removes important protections for construction workers in extreme heat conditions.

via NPR|

#construction-workers #heat-wave #labor-rights

tragedy2 years ago•2 min saved

Tragic Mar-Jac Poultry accident leaves community in disbelief.

A 16-year-old boy, Duvan Pérez, was killed in an accident at the Mar-Jac Poultry processing plant in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Questions have been raised about how a minor was working at the plant, as federal law prohibits minors from working in meat and poultry plants due to safety concerns. Pérez was conducting sanitation operations when the accident occurred. Multiple investigations, including by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Wage and Hour Division, have been initiated. This is not the first fatal accident at the plant, which has had three deaths and one amputation in the past three years.

via WDAM|

#fatal-accident #investigation #mar-jac-poultry

accidents2 years ago

Fatal Accident at South Columbus Factory Raises Concerns Over Working Conditions.

A man died after getting stuck in a machine at a business in south Columbus. Emergency services were called to the scene, but the man was pronounced dead at the scene. The incident is being investigated as an industrial accident, and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has been notified.

via ABC6OnYourSide.com|

#accidents #columbus #fatality

health2 years ago•3 min saved

Fungal Outbreak Claims Life of Michigan Paper Mill Employee

A contracted employee to a paper mill in Michigan has died from blastomycosis, a rare fungal infection that has affected nearly 100 employees at the mill. The mill will temporarily close for up to three weeks for deep cleaning and inspection of incoming materials. Blastomycosis is caused by infection from a fungus found in soil and decaying wood that exists in the eastern U.S. and parts of Canada. The outbreak is considered highly unusual, as blastomycosis is not typically spread from person to person, indicating scores of people were exposed to the same spore-containing materials.

via USA TODAY|

#blastomycosis #fungal-outbreak #health

health2 years ago•3 min saved

Fatal Fungal Outbreak at Michigan Paper Mill

A contracted employee at the Billerud paper mill in Escanaba has died from blastomycosis, a rare fungal infection that has affected nearly 100 employees at the mill. The mill will temporarily close for up to three weeks for deep cleaning and inspection of incoming materials. Blastomycosis is caused by breathing in microscopic fungal spores from soil and decaying wood. Most people who breathe in the spores don't get sick, but some develop symptoms that mimic a cold or the flu. The United Steelworkers union has called for testing and cleaning in paper mills across the industry.

via Detroit Free Press|

#billerud-paper-mill #blastomycosis #fungal-infection

health2 years ago•3 min saved

Michigan Paper Mill Workers Hit by Rare Fungal Outbreak

Over 90 employees at a paper mill in Michigan are believed to be infected with a fungus found in soil and decaying wood, with about a dozen requiring hospitalization. Investigation of the blastomycosis outbreak at the Billerud paper mill in Escanaba is ongoing and involves local, state, and federal health and occupational safety officials. Blastomycosis is a fungal disease that is not typically transferred from person to person, indicating that scores of employees were infected from the same materials containing the blastomyces fungal spores. Workers are being encouraged to wear company-provided N95 masks, and HVAC systems and other areas of the plant are being deep-cleaned as advised by health and occupational safety officials.

via USA TODAY|

#blastomycosis #fungal-outbreak #health