The San Bernardino County District Attorney’s office is prosecuting Timothy Collister, who is employed by a salvage company’s subcontractor, for involuntary manslaughter in the death of Martin Mendoza, an auto wrecker employee who was blown to bits by a 25-pound “live” shell sold as scrap from Fort Irwin. The trial was set for July 22 …
The Cal-OSH Standards Board, meeting in San Diego on July 16, had before it two proposed petition decisions. Both petitions were submitted by union men. Initially, both were proposed to be denied. However, following consideration of public comments, the SEIU petition recommending revisions to General Industry 5193, bloodborne pathogens, was granted to the extent that …
LeMaster Steel Erectors, Inc., Elkhart, Indiana, has been charged by a federal grand jury with willful violation of fall protection regulations at a construction site in Ohio. Charges of obstruction of justice were also levied against the employer and its construction supervisor. Fed-OSHA’s investigation of a fatal accident on August 6, 1996, led the Department …
Fed-OSHA’s Policy Directorate has scheduled public meetings to review the cotton dust and grain handling standards. The purpose is to determine whether the standards should be modified or rescinded to make them more effective in providing workers with a safe and healthful workplace. COTTON DUST: The cotton dust standard, in place since 1978, was to …
LEAD-BASED PAINT HAZARDS: On June 1 the USEPA issued a final rule that requires people who perform renovations of target housing to provide a lead hazard information pamphlet to owners and occupants before beginning the work. General building contractors and special trade contractors will be expected to distribute the pamphlet, titled “Protect Your Family from …
On August 17, 1998, there will be 1,049 fewer pages of OSHA regulations, the agency announced proudly. Gone from the Code of Federal Regulations will be several standards that cover hazards outside of OSHA’s jurisdiction, such as transportation of certain chemicals and explosives under the jurisdiction of the Department of Transportation. The new rule also …
“A Tribute to the Foot” is the theme of a lively issue of a newsletter put out by George Washington University’s Division of Environmental & Occupational Health in Washington, DC. The “On the Job” newsletter is on the web (www.gwumc.edu/occenv/otjindex.htm). The Spring 1998 issue provides facts about protective footwear, in Spanish and English. The reasons …
The Construction Safety Association of Ontario, Canada, has developed the Falcon, a new hard hat which is lightweight and has “fins” to better protect the front, sides and back of the head. For sun protection, the manufacturer is recommending Velcro-attached additions as an extra option. The Falcon weighs about one pound, comes in 10 colors …