Sunday, December 9, 2012
Saturday, December 8, 2012
Dedicated Bike Lanes Can Prevent On-The-Job Injuries
Traffic accidents are major factors in the death of workers on the job. A recent report from the American Public Health Association reports that separate cycling lanes will prevent accidents.
Objectives. We compared cycling injury risks of 14 route types and other route infrastructure features.
Methods. We recruited 690 city residents injured while cycling in Toronto or Vancouver, Canada. A case-crossover design compared route infrastructure at each injury site to that of a randomly selected control site from the same trip.
Results. Of 14 route types, cycle tracks had the lowest risk (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 0.11; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.02, 0.54), about one ninth the risk of the reference: major streets with parked cars and no bike infrastructure. Risks on major streets were lower without parked cars (adjusted OR = 0.63; 95% CI = 0.41, 0.96) and with bike lanes (adjusted OR = 0.54; 95% CI = 0.29, 1.01). Local streets also had lower risks (adjusted OR = 0.51; 95% CI = 0.31, 0.84). Other infrastructure characteristics were associated with increased risks: streetcar or train tracks (adjusted OR = 3.0; 95% CI = 1.8, 5.1), downhill grades (adjusted OR = 2.3; 95% CI = 1.7, 3.1), and construction (adjusted OR = 1.9; 95% CI = 1.3, 2.9).
Conclusions. The lower risks on quiet streets and with bike-specific infrastructure along busy streets support the route-design approach used in many northern European countries. Transportation infrastructure with lower bicycling injury risks merits public health support to reduce injuries and promote cycling.
Read More: http://ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/abs/10.2105/AJPH.2012.300762?journalCode=ajph&&
Read more about motor vehicle accidents and workers' compensation
Objectives. We compared cycling injury risks of 14 route types and other route infrastructure features.
Methods. We recruited 690 city residents injured while cycling in Toronto or Vancouver, Canada. A case-crossover design compared route infrastructure at each injury site to that of a randomly selected control site from the same trip.
Results. Of 14 route types, cycle tracks had the lowest risk (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 0.11; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.02, 0.54), about one ninth the risk of the reference: major streets with parked cars and no bike infrastructure. Risks on major streets were lower without parked cars (adjusted OR = 0.63; 95% CI = 0.41, 0.96) and with bike lanes (adjusted OR = 0.54; 95% CI = 0.29, 1.01). Local streets also had lower risks (adjusted OR = 0.51; 95% CI = 0.31, 0.84). Other infrastructure characteristics were associated with increased risks: streetcar or train tracks (adjusted OR = 3.0; 95% CI = 1.8, 5.1), downhill grades (adjusted OR = 2.3; 95% CI = 1.7, 3.1), and construction (adjusted OR = 1.9; 95% CI = 1.3, 2.9).
Conclusions. The lower risks on quiet streets and with bike-specific infrastructure along busy streets support the route-design approach used in many northern European countries. Transportation infrastructure with lower bicycling injury risks merits public health support to reduce injuries and promote cycling.
Read More: http://ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/abs/10.2105/AJPH.2012.300762?journalCode=ajph&&
Read more about motor vehicle accidents and workers' compensation
Jul 25, 2012
Court Rules Site of Accident Invokes Exclusivity Rule. English: Motor vehicle accident following a ve... A NJ appeals court ruled that a motor vehicle accident cause by a co-worker in the emplyers' parking lot, before work had.
May 23, 2011
In 2009, motor vehicle crashes resulted in approximately 23,000 deaths to passenger vehicle occupants (excluding motorcyclists), and 2.6 million occupants were treated for injuries in emergency departments in the United ...
Nov 29, 2011
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) proposes to restrict the use of hand-held mobile telephones, including hand-held cell phones, by drivers of commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) while operating in ...
Apr 18, 2011
OSHA will investigate motor vehicle accidents, including cell phone records, and will issue citations and fine employers where an accident involved texting while driving. While OSHA has juridiction over employers, and not ...
Friday, December 7, 2012
Triangle Shirt Waist Fire -- Revisited
Read the complete story (NY Times):
THE HUMAN PRICE
Horrific Fire Revealed a Gap in Safety for Global Brands
By JIM YARDLEY
A blaze that killed 112 workers in Bangladesh last month exposed a disconnect among retailers like Sears and Walmart, the monitoring system to protect workers and the factories filling the orders.
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Evacuation Zone Expanded in NJ Toxic Train Derailment
The US Coast Guard has expanded the evacuation zone in Paulsboro NJ (Gloucester County) following the toxic derailment of a train carrying deadly cancer causing vinyl chloride. Evacuations have been mandatory since last Friday when a movable bridge failed to function and collapsed when a freight train was moving over it.
The National Transportation Safety Administration (NTSB) is co-ordinating an intensive accident investigation. The NTSB reported yesterday that the bridge had problem and that the train engineer contacted a Conrail dispatcher for authorization to cross the bridge even though the bridge signal was red indicating bridge trouble. The NTSB also reported that the bridge was inspected by two Conrail supervisors shortly before the event because of trouble signal being sent by the bridge safety mechanism.
Read more about "vinyl chloride"
Vinyl Chloride Workplace PoisonVinyl Chloride Conspiracy Documents
Related articles
Breast Cancer and the Environment: A Life Course Approach - Institute of Medicine
"With more than 230,000 new cases of breast cancer expected to be diagnosed in the United States in 2011, many wonder about the role that environmental exposures may be playing. Susan G. Komen for the Cure® asked the IOM to review the current evidence on breast cancer and the environment, consider gene–environment interactions, review the research challenges, explore evidence-based actions that women might take to reduce their risk, and recommend directions for future research. Overall, the IOM finds that major advances have been made in understanding breast cancer and its risk factors, but more needs to be learned about its causes and how to prevent it.
"The report urges a life-course approach to studying breast cancer because new information suggests that women and girls might be more susceptible to some risk factors during certain life stages.
Read more about "breast cancer" and workers' compensation
Read more about "breast cancer" and workers' compensation
Nov 23, 2012
"A growing body of scientific evidence suggests that mammary carcinogens and/or EDCs contribute to the incidence of breast cancer. Yet there remain gaps and limitations. This exploratory population-based case–control ...
Mar 18, 2011
Fire fighters in Canada are supporting legislation that would establish a legal presumption that breast cancer is an occupationally related illness. The legislation also creates a presumption that 3 other cancers (skin, prostate ...
May 29, 2010
"Odds ratios (ORs) were increased for the usual risk factors for breast cancer and, adjusting for these, risks increased with occupational exposure to several agents, and were highest for exposures occurring before age 36 ...
Jan 12, 2011
The Nevada Supreme Court has awarded workers' compensation benefits to a firefighter who alleged that her occupational exposure at work to toxic substances caused her breast cancer. The court held that there was ...
Chamber of Commerce Attempts to Injure Asbestos Victims Further
 |
| Deadly Asbestos |
Asbestos has been a known carcinogen for decades. Not yet banned in the US, exposure to asbestos is has been causally linked to: asbestos, lung caner and mesothelioma.
The indiscriminate manufacture and use of asbestos fiber in the US, and worldwide, has resulted in an epidemic of workers' compensation claims throughout the US, and the longest running tort claims in the nations' history. Millions of innocent asbestos victims, and their families, have suffered unfortunate illness and needless illness and death.
The US Chamber of commerce is actively supporting in the US Congress, and in state legislatures, laws to require disclose of private settlements made in asbestos bankruptcy claims. While the Federal law is pending in Congress, the state legislation is actively being advanced.
See H.R.4369 Furthering Asbestos Claim Transparency (FACT) Act of 2012
Click on this link to registered your OPPOSITION to the legislation.
Read more about "asbestos"
Nov 29, 2012
Fitch Ratings estimates industry asbestos reserves to be deficient by $2 billion to $8 billion at year-end 2011. Asbestos reserves make up approximately 4% of total property/casualty industry reserves with approximately 50% ...
Nov 14, 2012
In an effort to protect workers and public from deadly asbetsos fiber, the Canadian Province of Saskatchewan has now mandated that builings containing asbestos fiber be publically listed and the list published to the Internet.
Nov 08, 2012
Today in Boston a steam pipe burst near Boston City Hall exposing the population to cancer causing asbestos fiber. Asbestos continues to be a major health hazard since it remains in construction material exposuing workers ...
Nov 04, 2012
The path of destruction to buildings caused by hurricane Sandy has created a potential threat of deadly asbestos exposure. Many structures destroyed and damaged by the storm contained asbestos fiber and those were ...
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
NJ Urges That Volunteers & Homeowners ProtectThemselves During Storm Clean Up
Health Commissioner Mary E. O'Dowd today urged those engaged in Hurricane clean up activities to make sure they protect themselves against environmental hazards that may be present in storm damaged homes and buildings.
Mold, materials containing asbestos and lead-based paint may all be potential hazards in storm damaged buildings. Homeowners and volunteers conducting clean up or remediation work should ensure their safety by wearing protective equipment appropriate for the work they are doing. Protective equipment may include waterproof boots, gloves, goggles and a respirator.
"Homeowners doing clean up work and the volunteers assisting them are critical assets in New Jersey's recovery efforts, but making sure they protect themselves is equally important," said Commissioner O'Dowd.
"Homeowners and volunteers may not be familiar with the environmental hazards that may be present in storm damaged buildings or what the appropriate protective measures that are needed,'' the Commissioner added.
Those involved in clean up activities should also check with their health care provider to determine if they need a booster shot or tetanus vaccination. Everyone should be immunized with a tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis-containing vaccine. Individuals should receive a tetanus booster if they have not been vaccinated for tetanus during the past 10 years.
People who sustain a wound should check with their healthcare provider to determine if they need to be vaccinated, as the decision will depend on an assessment of the wound and the person's past immunization history.
Below are some do's and don'ts for clean up work:
DO's:
· Call a professional if you feel the work is too extensive
· Talk to an environmental health professional about safety and working in a building that has been damaged by the storm
· Wear appropriate protective equipment including gloves, hard hats, goggle, and boots
· Wear the appropriate respirator. A single respirator may not protect you against all of the hazards that may be present. A dust respirator will not protect you against vapors from oils or fuels
· Make sure you are fit to wear a respirator and to conduct the work. Remediation and clean up work can be very strenuous and breathing through a respirator can add additional stress to breathing. Talk with a healthcare professional if you are uncertain about the risks of wearing a respirator
· Take frequent breaks and remain hydrated
· Wash hands and any areas where your skin contacts debris
DON'Ts:
· Do not enter the building if you are uncertain about the buildings stability or of any hazards that may exist
· Do not conduct any work without protecting yourself. The conditions in storm damaged buildings may exasperate pre-existing conditions such as asthma, allergies or sensitivity to chemicals
· Do not mix any chemicals together
· Do not come in direct contact with flood water or remaining silt or mud. They may contain organic chemicals, pesticides or raw sewage
· Do not apply chemicals to surfaces to kill mold and bacteria without wearing the appropriate protective equipment. Many times these products contain chemicals and pesticides that can cause reactions if they come in contact with your skin or if they are inhaled
· Do not remove asbestos containing materials. Only specially trained and licensed contractors should remove these materials
The Department of Health has safety and health related information to assist homeowners and volunteers in their clean-up efforts. These documents are available on our website at www.nj.gov\health. The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also has important health and safety information on their website. Their information can be found at http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/cleanup/facts.asp.
The Department also has environmental and occupation health professionals available to answer questions related to the clean-up effort. An environmental health and safety specialist can be reached by calling the emergency hotline at 1-866-234-0964 or by calling 2-1-1.
Read more about Hurricane Sandy
Nov 20, 2012
As the massive clean-up and recovery efforts following Hurricane Sandy continue on the East Coast, the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) is assisting the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration ...
Nov 12, 2012
As Hurricane Sandy recovery workers descend on NJ by land, sea and airlift, by the thousands, energized and fueled by caffeine, to work long and tiring hours, to do treacherous and hazardous tasks, they need to understand ...
Oct 25, 2012
The NJ Office of Emergency Management and the National Hurricane Center are closely monitoring Hurricane Sandy ("frankenstorm") as it has the potential to become an historic storm as it moves up the Eastern seaboard ...
Nov 06, 2012
Safety is a primary issue when you're recovering from a disaster. Follow these tips to help ensure your safety and cope with the disaster. If you aren't able to return home, states, tribes, localities, and the Red Cross continue to ...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)