The State of New Jersey now supports a ban on fracking. NJ Governor Pat Murphy recognized the health and environmental consequences of using this process to explore and mine for natural gas.
Showing posts with label Silica. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Silica. Show all posts
Monday, February 26, 2018
Sunday, March 27, 2016
Silca: New US DOL Rule to Protect Workers
The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration today announced a final rule to improve protections for workers exposed to respirable silica dust. The rule will curb lung cancer, silicosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and kidney disease in America's workers by limiting their exposure to respirable crystalline silica.
Monday, September 2, 2013
A Victory for Silica Dust Exposed Workers?
 Today, after a much-criticized delay on issuing a rule to limit workers' exposure to cancer-causing silica dust, the Obama administration put forward a proposed rule for public consideration. The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) estimates that once the rule is in effect, it could save 700 lives a year and prevent nearly 1,600 cases of silicosis annually. In an OSHA press release, Dr. David Michaels, assistant secretary of labor for occupational safety and health, commented, "Exposure to silica can be deadly, and limiting that exposure is essential. Every year, exposed workers not only lose their ability to work, but also to breathe. This proposal is expected to prevent thousands of deaths from silicosis—an incurable and progressive disease—as well as lung cancer, other respiratory diseases and kidney disease. We're looking forward to public comment on the proposal." Workplace safety advocates applauded the decision. In a press release issued by the non-profit National Council for Occupational Safety and Health, executive director Tom O'Conner noted that workers who are most exposed to silica tend to be those least able to advocate for themselves. "Low-wage immigrant workers and temporary workers are disproportionally represented in the industries with silica exposure—and are the most vulnerable to retaliation should they report potential hazards, injuries or illnesses," O'Conner said. "This new rule will... |
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Jon L. Gelman of Wayne NJ is the author NJ Workers’ Compensation Law (West-Thompson) and co-author of the national treatise, Modern Workers’ Compensation Law (West-Thompson). For over 4 decades the Law Offices of Jon L Gelman 1.973.696.7900 jon@gelmans.com have been representing injured workers and their families who have suffered occupational accidents and illnesses.
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Long Overdue Silica Dust Rule Issued, Final Action Must Be Swift, Says Trumka
| Sixteen years ago, federal workplace safety officials began developing a rule to control and limit workers’ exposure to silica dust. Some 2 million workers are exposed to this deadly dust each year and, according to public health experts, more than 7,000 workers develop silicosis and 200 die each year as a result of this disabling lung disease. Today, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) finally issued a proposed rule. AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka says the new rule was welcome but calls the proposed standard “long overdue” and notes that the rule is still only a proposal. Workers exposed to silica dust will only be protected when a final rule is issued. Some industry groups are certain to attack the rule and try to stop it in its tracks. The AFL-CIO will do everything we can to see that this does not happen. We urge the Obama administration to continue moving forward with the public rule-making process without delay. The final silica rule should be issued as fast as humanly possible, to protect the health and lives of American workers Silicosis literally suffocates workers to death. It also causes lung cancer and other diseases. Says Trumka: Silica dust is a killer. |
Saturday, August 24, 2013
Silica: A Long Overdue Proposal
The long awaited "Silica standard" for workers has been proposed by OSHA. This post is shared from Dr. David Michaels, Assistant Secretary for Occupational Safety and Health.
Alan White is a 48-year-old foundry worker from Buffalo, N.Y. – he’s in the local steelworkers union, employed at the same foundry where his father also worked. He just became a grandfather. Three years ago, Alan went to a doctor who did a series of tests and told him that he had contracted silicosis, a debilitating lung disease he got from being exposed to silica at his job.
I met Alan last year on a trip he made to Washington to talk about how he got silicosis and the effects of the disease on his life. This is what he told me:
“I don’t smoke, I don’t drink, I eat organic foods, I don’t eat much red meat. Now I know that my lifestyle probably won’t benefit my long-term health because of the devastating effects of silica exposure. As a new grandfather, I probably will not be able to run with my grandchild through the park as I had hoped. Even simple tasks like walking and talking on a cell phone are difficult and my outlook is downhill from here.”
Earlier today, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration proposed a new rule to protect workers from silica exposure, and we’re reaching out to stakeholders for their help to develop a final rule with effective solutions that will protect workers like Alan.
Healthy lungs vs. silicosis
Crystalline silica kills hundreds of American workers and sickens thousands more each year. These very small silica dust particles are hazardous when workers breathe them in. They can cause silicosis – an incurable and progressive disease. Workers can be exposed to airborne silica dust from cutting, sawing, drilling and crushing concrete, brick, block and other stone products. They also can be exposed during operations that use sand products such as glass manufacturing, sand blasting and −as in Alan’s case −foundry work.
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
An Emerging Health Consequence of Fracking: Silica Exposure
Sand produced while fracking is becoming a major health issue for energy workers throughout the country. The intransigency of the Obama Administration to promulgate regulations is further complication the situation and jeopardizing the workers' health.
Silicosis is one of the oldest recognized compensable workers' compensation occupational diseases. In fact, it pre-dated the and was the genesis for the expansion of many occupational statutes to reduce employers' liability under the civil justice system. The Industry effort was an attempt to reduce costly liability verdicts for exposing workers to the hazards of silica.
"Peg Seminario, director of safety and health with the AFL-CIO, a group of unions that has been pushing for stronger silica regulation, says the situation with fracking is a wake-up call.
"'Hopefully it will give some impetus for the need for the silica regulation — that there is a whole other population at risk and those numbers are potentially growing,' says Seminario."
Silicosis is one of the oldest recognized compensable workers' compensation occupational diseases. In fact, it pre-dated the and was the genesis for the expansion of many occupational statutes to reduce employers' liability under the civil justice system. The Industry effort was an attempt to reduce costly liability verdicts for exposing workers to the hazards of silica."Peg Seminario, director of safety and health with the AFL-CIO, a group of unions that has been pushing for stronger silica regulation, says the situation with fracking is a wake-up call.
"'Hopefully it will give some impetus for the need for the silica regulation — that there is a whole other population at risk and those numbers are potentially growing,' says Seminario."
Sunday, February 10, 2013
Silica Linked to a Fatal and Compensable Lung Cancer
A foundry worker, who was exposed to silica for over 35 years, was held by a NJ Workers' Compensation Judge, to have contracted a fatal lung cancer as a result of his employment. His spouse was awarded dependency benefits.
Compensation Judge, Philip A. Tornetta, in a recently published decision (Johnson v. Campbell CP NO. 2007-11564), found that a worker's adenacarcinoma was related to his exposure at on the job. The Judge based his decision upon a review of the death certificate, Material Data Safety Sheets, hospital records, oral testimony from the surviving spouse, and expert medical testimony.
Following the landmark NJ Supreme Court decision in Fiore v. Consolidated Freightways, 140 NJ 452 (1995) [an occupational heart claim], and Lindquist v. City of Jersey City Fire Department, 175 NJ 244 (2003) [mandating evidential review of scientific evidence], the Court reasoned "the preponderance of the credible evidence" proven the exposure to caused a compensable and fatal medical condition.
The Obama Administration is reviewing proposed rules to reduce exposure to silica in the workplace. It is anticipated that they will be adopted shortly. Judge Tornetta's decision reflects the urgency of the need to promulgate silica regulations immediately.
Read more about "silica" and workers' compensation:
Feb 05, 2013
The Laborers International Union (LIUNA) has set up petition to the White House, urging the executive to move forward on the proposed OSHA rule to reduce silica exposures. You can join the 2700 other people who have ...
Jun 22, 2012
Because large quantities of silica sand are used during hydraulic fracturing, NIOSH began a cooperative effort in January 2010 to collect data regarding silica exposure at hydraulic fracturing operations. NIOSH worked in ...
Jan 03, 2010
"Crystalline silica is a significant component of the earth's crust, and many workers in a wide range of industries are exposed to it, usually in the form of respirable quartz or, less frequently, cristobalite. Chronic silicosis is a ...
Jan 21, 2010
Insofar as silica dust impairs cellular defense, silica-exposed workers (without silicosis) may be at increased risk for fungal infections, as they are for mycobacterial infections." Concurrent Silicosis and Pulmonary Mycosis at ...
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Protect American workers from exposure to silica on the job
At least 1.7 million construction workers could be protected from cancer-causing silica if an OSHA protection – stalled for two years – is put into action.
The Laborers International Union (LIUNA) has set up petition to the White House, urging the executive to move forward on the proposed OSHA rule to reduce silica exposures. You can join the 2700 other people who have signed on here:
Sign the petition.
In the time it takes to create an account at the White House website – about three minutes – at least three more workers will have been exposed to silica.
The Laborers International Union (LIUNA) has set up petition to the White House, urging the executive to move forward on the proposed OSHA rule to reduce silica exposures. You can join the 2700 other people who have signed on here:
Sign the petition.
In the time it takes to create an account at the White House website – about three minutes – at least three more workers will have been exposed to silica.
Friday, January 11, 2013
NIOSH Announces the Top 10 Science Blog Posts in 2012
The list shows the vast array of topics covered by NIOSH. Of note this year, the third and eleventh most viewed blogs were written by external partners.
- Help Wanted: Spray Polyurethane Foam Insulation Research. We urged you to help us collect on-site air samples during SPF installation. The response was fantastic! Thank you!
- Worker Exposure to Crystalline Silica During Hydraulic Fracturing highlighted a newly-identified hazard in the fracking industry, provided prevention information and asked for assistance with future efforts.
- Hair Formaldehyde and Industrial Hygiene, from the Center for Research on Occupational and Environmental Toxicology (CROET) at Oregon Health and Science University, summarized the campaign to inform stylists of the risks related to formaldehyde-containing hair straighteners and the need for proper protection.
- Sleep and Work. In honor of National Sleep Awareness Week we summarized sleep and work issues in this blog and highlighted NIOSH research in the companion blog NIOSH Research on Work Schedules and Work-related Sleep Loss(#6).
- Stress and Health in Law Enforcement highlighted research from the Buffalo Cardio-Metabolic Occupational Police Stress (BCOPS) study and from related studies of morbidity and mortality among police officers.
- See #4 above
- Brain Injury in the NFL discussed new research finding that National Football League (NFL) players may be at a higher risk of death associated with Alzheimer’s and other impairments of the brain and nervous system than the general U.S. population.
- Safer and Healthier at any Age: Strategies for an Aging Workforce presented strategies for preparing your workplace to accommodate an older workforce.
- All-terrain Vehicles and Work highlighted the risks associated with ATVs and identified safe practices for use in the workplace.
- Respiratory Protection for Workers Handling Engineered Nanoparticles. While this blog was technically posted in December of 2011 we included it anyway. This blog provided an update on the science and rationale behind NIOSH’s recommendations for the use and selection of respirators against engineered nanoparticles.
- Sleep Pain and Hospital Workers, from colleagues at Harvard, examined the question: Does lack of sleep increase pain and limit function among hospital care workers?
- Safety and Health in the Theater: Keeping Tragedy Out of the Comedies… and Musicals…and Dramas discussed the often overlooked hazards in the theater.
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Occupational Exposure to Silica During Hydraulic Fracking
Silica exposure has long been recognized as a compensable occupational condition in a majority of jurisdictions. A sandblaster who was required to use several 100 pound bags of silica each day and who, as a result of the inhalation of silica dust, developed silicosis was awarded compensation benefits in the form of both disability and medical benefits. Sharp v. Paterson Monument Co., 9 N.J.Super. 476, 75 A.2d 480 (Co.1950). The increased risk for occupational exposure to tuberculosis (TB) is recognized among healthcare and other workers exposed to persons with active TB and workers exposed to silica or other agents that increase the progression from latent to active TB. CDC Proportionate Mortality from Pulmonary Tuberculosis Associated With Occupations—28 States, 1979–1990. MMWR 1995; Vol. 44/No. 1:14-19.
Click here to read more: Worker Exposure to Crystalline Silica During Hydraulic Fracturing
"Hydraulic fracturing or “fracking” is the process of injecting large volumes of water, sand, and chemicals into the ground at high pressure to break up shale formation allowing more efficient recovery of oil and gas. This form of well stimulation has been used since the late 1940s, but has increased substantially over the last 10 years with the advent of horizontal drilling technology that greatly improves access to gas deposits in shale. Approximately 435,000 workers were employed in the US oil and gas extraction industry in 2010; nearly half of those workers were employed by well servicing companies, which includes companies that conduct hydraulic fracturing (BLS)."
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For over 3 decades the Law Offices of Jon L. Gelman 1.973.696.7900 jon@gelmans.com have been representing injured workers and their families who have suffered work related accident and injuries.
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