| December 4, 2006 |
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From the Editor: Membership News Alert is a benefit of your National Safety Council membership, providing timely and pertinent safety information, updates and resources (from the editors of Safety+Health magazine).
Send questions or comments to the editor at membernewseditor@nsc.org (see below for information on subscribing or unsubscribing).
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| Results from the last poll: | |
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How have your habits changed since the National Safety Council called for a ban on cell phone use while driving?
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| I have stopped using my cell phone while driving | 9.3% |
| I use my cell phone less while driving | 35.8% |
| I make and receive calls at the same rate | 31.2% |
| I stopped using my cell phone while driving before the announcement | 23.7% |
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85,000
Number of people age 19 and younger treated for fireworks-related injuries in emergency rooms from 1990 to 2003 Source: Nationwide Children's Hospital
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| Archived Facts of the Week |
Where can I find information to help prevent boating accidents?
Every year approximately 5,000 people die in recreational boating accidents. The U.S. Coast Guard and the National Safe Boating Council provide tips and other information on safe boating. BoatSafe.com also offers coastal navigation courses and tips for children. The NSC Library is a valuable member benefit. E-mail the staff with your specific questions. Browse or search the "Ask the Library" archives. |
This week
IN THE NEWSIN THE NEWS
Foulke finalizes OSHA management team
OSHA administrator Edwin G. Foulke Jr. finalized his executive management team, including the appointment of an agency veteran to head the key Directorate of Construction. That job goes to Steven F. Witt, who has worked at the agency since 1983, most recently as acting deputy assistant secretary of labor. One of Witt's responsibilities will be to complete the agency's cranes and derricks negotiated rulemaking, which is undergoing review. Other appointments include:
- Deputy assistant administrators: C. Bryan Little, formerly of the Department of Labor's Office of Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs; and Donald G. Shalhoub, formerly ombudsman for Part E of the Labor Department's Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program
- Chief of staff: Gabe Sierra, formerly a senior marketing manager in private industry
- Director of OSHA's Directorate of Standards and Guidance: Former acting director Dorothy Dougherty
Democrat-controlled 110th Congress promises 'stepped-up' workplace oversight
As the 109th Congress adjourns Friday for the holiday season, focus has shifted to Jan. 4, 2007 – the date the new Democratic-led 110th Congress takes the majority. Rep. George Miller, D-CA, incoming chairman of the House Education and the Workforce Committee, plans to conduct "comprehensive, stepped-up oversight to learn what actions can be taken to reduce the number of workplace fatalities and injuries," according to Tom Kiley, committee Democratic communications director. "We also want to ensure that government agencies – including OSHA and MSHA – are operating effectively and enforcing the law," Kiley said. Equally aggressive oversight is expected in the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, which will be led by Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-MA.
NIOSH issues latest results from evaluation on mining equipment
Newly released evaluation results (.pdf file) of some self-contained self-rescuers in underground coal mines indicated the breathing devices' performance degrades due to the environment. Between 2000 and 2004, more than 400 deployed SCSRs from five brands were tested as part of the eighth and ninth phases of NIOSH's Long Term Field Evaluation on the devices. Results from the latest phases indicated that degradation included elevated levels of carbon dioxide, high breathing resistance and reduced capacity. The devices' components also suffered degradation to breathing hoses, outer cases and seals.
Bush nominates Cade as U.S. fire administrator
President Bush has nominated Gregory B. Cade as administrator of the U.S. Fire Administration in the Department of Homeland Security. Cade currently serves as fire chief and emergency services coordinator for the city of Virginia Beach, VA. If confirmed by the Senate, Cade will fill the position previously held by R. David Paulison, who in May was confirmed as head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
'Safety on 34th St.'
The average mall Santa Claus is exposed to a number of unique workplace hazards, according to a recent study by Gap, PA-based pretzel company Auntie Anne's Inc. The study found 60 percent of mall Santas are sneezed upon at least 10 times per day, and 34 percent have been "wet upon" by a child seated on their laps. What's more, nearly 90 percent of Santas reported having had their beards pulled. About 30 percent of mall Santas experience "lap traffic" of at least 100 children per day.
DOL offers tips on safe holiday partying
With the holiday season here, the Department of Labor issued tips for employers hosting office celebrations. The tips are geared toward preventing employees from driving impaired. Among the tips were reinforcing the company's substance abuse policy, making nonalcoholic beverages available, arranging alternative transportation, stopping the serving of alcohol before the party ends, and offering foods rich in starch and protein to absorb alcohol.
TRANSPORTATION SAFETY NEWS
More motorcyclists wearing helmets, NHTSA says
Motorcycle helmet use is rising, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recently reported. Between 2005 and 2006, helmet use rose to 51 percent, up from 48 percent. Around the country:
- The largest increases were found in the West, where usage rates rose to 72 percent – up from 50 percent – and in the Northeast, where the rate increased by 5 percent.
- Use rates fell 3 percent in the Midwest and 4 percent in the South.
NHTSA counted only helmets that comply with Transportation Department standards. The agency said it is creating a public service announcement to promote helmet use and a consumer video for its Website on how to choose a safe and well-fitting helmet.
HOME AND COMMUNITY NEWS
CDC distributes funding for avian flu testing
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention awarded $11.4 million among four companies to develop diagnostic testing that provides quicker and more accurate results for avian flu and other common and emerging influenza viruses. The companies – Cepheid of Sunnyvale, CA; Iquum of Marlborough, MA; MesoScale of Gaithersburg, MD; and Nanogen of San Diego – were selected from a field of 13 applicants to develop the technology, which officials hope will be commercially available by the end of the decade to detect the virus within 30 minutes. Currently, samples of suspected avian flu must be sent to one of 100 nationwide labs to be tested, and can take up to 24 hours before results are returned.
Holiday fires take heavy toll
An average total of 128,700 fires occurred in the month of December between the years 2002 and 2004, the U.S. Fire Administration recently reported. These fires caused 415 civilian deaths, 1,650 nonfatal injuries and $990 million in property damage. During the month of December, cooking is the leading cause of residential building fires, followed by heating systems and open flames from fireplaces or candles.
Study: Fewer seniors are disabled
Fewer senior citizens in the United States are chronically disabled, a recent National Academy of Sciences report found. Among Americans older than 65, 19 percent were considered chronically disabled in 2005-2006, down from 26.5 percent in 1982. The academy attributed the change to improvements in health care and health practices, as well as environmental factors.
Too much fluoride unhealthy for infants, dental experts warn
The American Dental Association issued a warning to caregivers about overexposure to fluoride in bottle-fed infants. Too much fluoride can damage an infant's teeth as they develop by increasing the risk of enamel fluorosis. Chicago-based ADA recommended feeding bottle-fed infants ready-to-feed liquid formula, or a concentrated or powdered formula mixed with fluoride-free bottled water, to limit the child's fluoride intake. Fluoride-free bottled water is widely available, and often labeled as purified, demineralized, deionized, distilled or reverse osmosis filtered.
NATIONAL SAFETY COUNCIL NEWS
Safe Driving Tips Webcast now available
The “Safe Driving Tips for the Winter Holiday Season” Webcast is available for free download. This member-exclusive Webcast includes information on winterizing your vehicle, driving on poor roadway conditions, the hazards of driving while wearing bulky clothing, hauling holiday gifts and gear, the impact of social drinking, and much more.