City Out Sourcing Police To Reduce Workers Compensation Costs

Maywood City California is taking the cost saving approach by out-sourcing its essential services, including its police, to reduce workers' compensation costs. City officials anticipate a 40% cost savings through the use of out-sourcing. The city has an operating deficit of $1.4 Million.

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EPA Recommends Further Toxicity Studies of Gulf Oil Dispersants

The Environmental Protection Agency today released peer reviewed results from the first round of its own independent toxicity testing on eight oil dispersants. EPA conducted testing to ensure that decisions about ongoing dispersant use in the Gulf of Mexico continue to be grounded in the best available science. Additional testing is needed to further inform the use of dispersants. 


Mandated by the US EPA , British Petroleum (BP) was ordered to reduce the amount of dispersants being utilized. "BP shall implement measures to limit the total amount of surface and subsurface dispersant applied each day to the minimum amount possible. BP shall establish an overall goal of reducing dispersant application by 75% from the maximum daily amount used...."


One of the primary dispersants been utilized is Corexit(r) 9500. NALCO, the manufacturer warns on the material data safety sheet (MSDS): "Do not get in eyes, on skin, on clothing. Do not take internally. Avoid breathing vapor. Use with adequate ventilation. In case
of contact with eyes, rinse immediately with plenty of water and seek medical advice. After contact with skin, wash immediately with plenty of soap and water."


"EPA's results indicated that none of the eight dispersants tested, including the product in use in the Gulf, displayed biologically significant endocrine disrupting activity. While the dispersant products alone – not mixed with oil - have roughly the same impact on aquatic life, JD-2000 and Corexit 9500 were generally less toxic to small fish and JD-2000 and SAF-RON GOLD were least toxic to mysid shrimp."


The EPA called for further testing. The next phase of EPA’s testing will assess the acute toxicity of multiple concentrations of Louisiana Sweet Crude Oil alone and combinations of Louisiana Sweet Crude Oil with each of the eight dispersants for two test species. 


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New Study Released Explaining the Asbestos - Mesothelioma Link

"Asbestos carcinogenesis has been linked to the release of cytokines and mutagenic reactive oxygen species (ROS) from inflammatory cells. Asbestos is cytotoxic to human mesothelial cells (HM), which appears counterintuitive for a carcinogen. We show that asbestos-induced HM cell death is a regulated form of necrosis that links to carcinogenesis. Asbestos-exposed HM activate poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase, secrete H2O2, deplete ATP, and translocate high-mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB1) from the nucleus to the cytoplasm, and into the extracellular space. The release of HMGB1 induces macrophages to secrete TNF-α, which protects HM from asbestos-induced cell death and triggers a chronic inflammatory response; both favor HM transformation. In both mice and hamsters injected with asbestos, HMGB1 was specifically detected in the nuclei, cytoplasm, and extracellular space of mesothelial and inflammatory cells around asbestos deposits. TNF-α was coexpressed in the same areas. HMGB1 levels in asbestos-exposed individuals were significantly higher than in nonexposed controls (P < 0.0001). Our findings identify the release of HMGB1 as a critical initial step in the pathogenesis of asbestos-related disease, and provide mechanistic links between asbestos-induced cell death, chronic inflammation, and carcinogenesis. Chemopreventive approaches aimed at inhibiting the chronic inflammatory response, and especially blocking HMGB1, may decrease the risk of malignant mesothelioma among asbestos-exposed cohorts."

"Programmed necrosis induced by asbestos in human mesothelial cells causes high-mobility group box 1 protein release and resultant inflammation" Published online before print June 28, 2010, doi:10.1073/pnas.1006542107 (This item requires a subscription to Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences).

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Aggravation of Prior Knee Injury Compensable in Workers Compensation

A worker who suffered an injury to a knee with a pre-existing arthritic condition was awarded workers' compensation benefits. A Wyoming court of appeals reversed a trial level decision and found that evidence existed to sufficiently establish that a fall in the workplace resulted in a material degree to have aggravated the preexisting condition.

"The claimant has a previous history of significant obesity. At 5′2″ tall with weighing close to 250 pounds, she has had extensive and excessive weight bearing on her knees. The left knee has already been replaced secondary to severe end-stage degenerative arthritis. "

The Court held, "The evidence is undisputed that despite Judd's preexisting degenerative condition, she was able to work fulltime without restriction before her work injury, and after her work injury, she suffered debilitating pain that prevented her from putting weight on her knee and from working. The work injury brought Judd's need for surgery to a head, and the Medical Commission erred in denying benefits for the surgery. The case is reversed and remanded for the award of appropriate benefits."

Judd v. State ex. rel. Wyoming Workers' Safety and Compensation Div., ___P.3d____, 2010 WL 2541673 (Wyo. 2010) Decided June 25, 2010

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NIOSH Is Developing a Voluntary Roster of Exposed Oil Spill Workers

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is building upon the historical problems of past national disasters by establishing a registry of cleanup workers of the Gulf oil spill. In the past, those who have suffered serious occupational exposures during the recovery phase have not been identified nor followed epidemiologically.

"NIOSH is developing a voluntary roster containing information about thousands of response workers who are participating in the recovery efforts to create a record of those who have participated in cleanup activities and a mechanism to contact them about possible work-related symptoms of illness or injury, as needed. The information collected in this roster would be vital for possible future studies to determine whether health conditions that may develop are associated with occupational exposures during the cleanup. In an attempt to reach all cleanup workers, a rostering program is being administered in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese. NIOSH has also extended the rostering effort to include federal workers and state and county workers who have received the required safety training and who are responding in the event. Through our rostering efforts to date, we have already captured information from more than 20,357 workers responding to this event. More information including copies of the rostering form are available on the NIOSH website.

NIOSH Deepwater Horizon Initial Roster Form 

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Louisiana Health Department Reports 162 Cases of Oil Spill Worker Illness

Louisiana DHH Releases Oil Spill-Related Exposure Information
162 Exposure-Related Cases; Officials Continue to Monitor Health Impacts

One hundred and sixty-two cases of oil spill exposure-related cases have been reported to the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH) to date, according to its fourth surveillance report released today. One hundred and twenty-eight of those cases involved workers on oil rigs or workers involved in the oil spill clean-up efforts, while 34 were reported by the general public.

The Department is gathering data reported through its surveillance network of doctors, clinics, emergency care locations and medical facilities, which are reporting illnesses and injuries related to the oil spill for the ongoing database. Each exposure-related complaint is followed up on by DHH Office of Public Health staff.

This week's report also includes summaries of air surveillance and seafood surveillance data generated by state and federal agencies, including the EPA, the Center for Toxicology and Environmental Health, a private company working with BP, and the Louisiana departments of Wildlife and Fisheries, and Environmental Quality. The seafood data shows that 262 samples of various kinds of seafood have been sampled and tested for chemicals present in hydrocarbons.

Breakdown of Cases by Category:

• Of the workers who reported illnesses, 120 were male, eight were female. Of the general public, 9 were male, while 25 were female. Most of those individuals who reported illnesses were between the ages of 18 and 64.
• Most workers either utilized an emergency room or urgent care center, or a clinic or physician's office (104 and 21, respectively). Nineteen workers and two members of the general public with mild symptoms had short hospitalizations.

Questions about exposure-related illnesses can be directed to the Louisiana Poison Center: 1-800-222-1222. The Poison Center is staffed 24-hours a day and can provide medical management advice. To report an exposure-related illness, call 1-888-293-7020.

The full Oil Spill Surveillance Report is available here. The report will be generated by DHH weekly and posted on www.dhhemergencynews.com.

DHH's Office of Public Health, Section of Environmental Epidemiology & Toxicology gathers and analyzes information provided by surveillance sites, including hospital emergency departments, outpatient clinics, physician's offices and the Louisiana Poison Center.

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OSHA Issues an Interim Guidance to Protect Health of Oil Spill Workers & Volunteers

OSHA has issued 7 recommendations to protect the health and safety of Deepwater Horizon workers and volunteers. Exposures to toxic chemicals and physical agents, heat, fatigue and psychological stress remain a focal point of concern. The document discusses the serious health effects of crude oil and il dispersant exposure.


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Click here for more information on how Jon L Gelman can assist you in a claim for workers' Compensation claim benefits. You may e-mail Jon  Gelman or call 1-973-696-7900.