Last Day to Sign: Protect American workers from exposure to silica on the job.

For about 100 years workers have been dying from exposure to silica on the job. Silica can cause both lung disease (silicosis) and cancer. The government have been talking about regulating exposures ever since the 1940s and sponsored a campaign to prevent silicosis in the 1990s. OSHA has drafted a proposal to reduce silica exposures in the workplace but it has been sitting at the White House OMB for almost 2 years! It is about time to move forward and promulgate a silica standard to protect American workers. Please sign this petition if you want to see action.

Click here to sign the The Whitehouse Petition

Read more about "silica" and workers' compensation

Workers' Compensation: Silica Linked to a Compensable Fatal Lung ...

11 hours ago

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 ...

http://workers-compensation.blogspot.com/

Protect American workers from exposure to silica on the job

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 ...

http://workers-compensation.blogspot.com/

Health Hazard Alert: Hydraulic Fracking Workers Suffer Silica ...

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 ...

http://workers-compensation.blogspot.com/

OSHA Moving to Finalize Crystalline Silica Exposure Standard

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 ...

http://workers-compensation.blogspot.com/

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:

Protect American workers from exposure to silica on the job

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 ...

http://workers-compensation.blogspot.com/

Health Hazard Alert: Hydraulic Fracking Workers Suffer Silica ...

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 ...

http://workers-compensation.blogspot.com/

OSHA Moving to Finalize Crystalline Silica Exposure Standard

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 ...

http://workers-compensation.blogspot.com/

Workers' Compensation: Silica Workers Prone to Fungal Infections

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 ...

http://workers-compensation.blogspot.com/

What To Do Before A Major Snow Storm Strikes

As weather forecasters begin to label the impending Northeast Snowstorm as "The Snowstorm of the Century" employers and employees at taking preparations to avoid adverse exposures and serious injurieis during a time of cold and stress.The US Centers for Disease Control has announced a preparatory list of things to be done in advance of the storm.

Stock up on emergency supplies for communication, food, safety, heating, and car in case a storm hits.

Communication Checklist

• Make sure you have at least one of the following in case there is a power failure:
  • Battery-powered radio (for listening to local emergency instructions). Have extra batteries.
  • National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) weather radio receiver (for listening to National Weather Service broadcasts).
    • Learn more about NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards
• Find out how your community warns the public about severe weather:
  • Siren
  • Radio
  • Television
• Listen to emergency broadcasts.
• Know what winter storm warning terms mean:
  
  • Winter Weather Advisory: Expect winter weather conditions to cause inconvenience and hazards.
  • Frost/Freeze Warning: Expect below-freezing temperatures.
  • Winter Storm Watch: Be alert; a storm is likely.
  • Winter Storm Warning: Take action; the storm is in or entering the area.
  • Blizzard Warning: Seek refuge immediately! Snow and strong winds, near-zero visibility, deep snow drifts, and life-threatening wind chill.
  • 
    

 Download Communication Checklist  [PDF - 54 KB] 

Nursing Facilities Have Higher Incidence Of Workplace Injury Than Construction

Today's post comes from guest author Nathan Reckman from Paul McAndrew Law Firm.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics “Workplace Injuries and Illnesses – 2010” report, the United States is becoming a safer place to work. In 2010, there were 3.1 million non-fatal work injuries reported. This translates to 3.5 injuries per 100 full-time equivalents, a slight decrease from the 2009 rate of 3.6 injuries per 100 full-time workers. The rate of injuries per 100 workers has been decreasing every year since 2002. In 2010, Iowa reported an above average number of work injuries, averaging 4.4 injuries per 100 full-time equivalent workers.

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. 

World Cancer Day 2013

1.5 million premature cancer deaths could be prevented per year if targets set to reduce NCDs are met by 2025

On World Cancer Day, UICC and International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) reveal real-life impact of achieving goal

Monday 4 February 2013 – World Cancer Day: Geneva, Switzerland – The Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) today announced that 1.5 million lives which would be lost to cancer, could be saved per year if decisive measures are taken to achieve the World Health Organization’s (WHO) ‘25 by 25’ target; to reduce premature deaths due to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) by 25% by 2025.[i]

Currently, 7.6 million people die from cancer worldwide every year, out of which, 4 million people die prematurely (aged 30 to 69 years).ⁱ So unless urgent action is taken to raise awareness about the disease and to develop practical strategies to address cancer, by 2025, this is projected to increase to an alarming 6 million premature cancer deaths per year.

“The estimate of 1.5 million lives lost per year to cancer that could be prevented must serve to galvanise our efforts in implementing the World Health Organization’s (WHO) ‘25 by 25’ target,” said Dr Christopher Wild, Director of IARC. “There is now a need for a global commitment to help drive advancements in policy and encourage implementation of comprehensive National Cancer Control Plans. If we are to succeed in this, we have a collective responsibility to support low- and middle-income countries who are tackling a cancer epidemic with insufficient resources.”

The 1.5 million lives lost per year represent 25% of the estimated 6 million premature cancer deaths that will occur by 2025, and the 6 million figure is itself based on population projections of current numbers and aging.[1]

Russian Money Interests Are Milking the Asbestos Cash Cow

The International Ban Asbestos Secretariat today reports about the corrupt connection between the Russian asbestos industrry and the IARC (the International Agency for Research on Cancer). To advance the mining and exportation of a known carcinogen, asbestos, and furthering the sufferring from asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma is an uncontionable act.

"Far from being coincidental, the research being conducted, the conferences being held and the papers being published are part of a long-term, orchestrated plan by asbestos stakeholders to counter all attempts to tarnish the image of chrysotile asbestos, a substance which continues to be sold in large quantities around the world. As long as money is to be made, the industry will leave no stone unturned in its quest to milk the asbestos cash cow. It is sad to see that they may now have new allies to help them do so."

Click here to read the complete article: The Lancent Highlights the IARC Controversey