Environmental news has been at the forefront of the EHS world this month. Clean Air Day took place on the 21st of June, and this month marks a year since President Trump announced his intention to withdraw from the Paris Agreement. Stronger air emissions control is required to slow down the air pollution that in combination with climate change is posing a risk to our health.
In addition to environmental issues, some areas like British Columbia in Canada have suffered from an increase in drug overdose fatalities. Now, doctors in B.C. are challenged by the situation and need to re-evaluate treatment and dosages for patients who are already using opioids for their pain.
To find out more about these and other current EHS news, have a look at our this month's selection of articles below.
National Safety Month
National Safety Council
June is the National Safety Month, an annual campaign that aims to increase safety awareness and reduce injuries and incidents. Organizations and individuals alike have been encouraged to participate by spreading the word, creating activities and events on safety and provide safety training. Every week in June has had a theme that the campaign will emphasize:
- Week 1: Emergency Preparedness
- Week 2: Wellness
- Week 3: Falls
- Week 4: Driving
National Safety Council provides a variety of information and materials on their website that you can use to improve safety awareness in your area. Read more »
B.C. doctors can't limit opioids or discriminate against pain patients: college
The opioid crisis in North America has challenged doctors about their rightful conduct. In the US, opioids killed more than 42,000 people in 2016. British Columbia in Canada holds the highest number of overdose fatalities in the country (1,448 deaths in 2017). In 2016, a standard came into effect to regulate the use of opioids, however, this caused many people being denied care due to the use of opioids. The standard has been revised meaning that doctors are not allowed to dismiss or "exclude patients from their practice because they've used or are currently using opioids". Read more »
Respirator use: How comfort improves safety and productivity
Is the comfort of your PPE the route to better safety? What about productivity? If an employee doesn't have to worry about their PPE, they can focus better on their job and surroundings. According to Jorsen, this also has a positive impact on productivity and employee morale. Climate control in PPE, air-supplied respirators, helmet padding, weight distribution and other factors should be taken into consideration when selecting PPE. Jorsen discusses the key factors of good PPE for your workers. Read more »
Clean Air Day
Clean Air Day
21st of June (the longest day of the air) marks the annual Clean Air Day. The purpose of the day is to clean the air by reducing pollution outdoors. Air quality impacts our health, and an estimate of 40,000 annual deaths are caused by bad air quality. Some of the major causes of air pollution are individual's use of cars, growth of the van fleet and traffic activity due to internet shopping and deliveries, open fires and stoves. So, even if for this one day, people are encouraged to do what they can to reduce air pollution. Here are some of the easy ways to contribute: leave the car home, use pick-up points to collect online deliveries and conserve energy at home. Read more »
Own a drone in the UK? It will soon be time to pass your safety test
A new law is considered that would require drone owners in the UK to pass a safety test before they can register with officials. The new law is being introduced due to a large number of near-misses between drones and commercial aircraft. The UK government is also considering "no-fly" zones near airports for example. The new law will apply to drones that weigh more than 250g. Drone owners have to also register with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). Fine for non-compliance will be up to £1000 whereas more serious breaches can lead up to five years in prison. Read more »
Ten most-asked questions about the OSHA inspection process
OSHA is the Occupational Safety and Health Administration of the USA. OSHA sets and enforces standards. But what exactly happens during an OSHA inspection? At the ASSP 2018 show in San Antonio, two retired OSHA officers answered 10 questions regarding the visit of an OSHA officer. Some of the topics discussed in this insightful Q&A include the inspection process itself, the rights of the organization, documentation, penalty amount and options after receiving a citation. Read more »