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Newsletter 26th Edition
Dan Abbotoy
April 15, 2024
Good morning! Another Monday, another edition of our Monday newsletter. This week we’re bring the heat! So, if you’re ready let’s dive in.
THIS WEEK’S TIPS
This week’s safety upgrades:
Your State’s Heat Standards - Interactive Map
New OSHA Walkaround Prep
New EPA Rules
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
This Weeks Professional Development Tip
SAFETY KNIGHTS COMMUNITY
New gig, who this?
HEAT SAFETY
What’s Your State’s Heat Stance?
Advocates have long urged the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to establish heat protection standards, yet millions of American workers still lack adequate safeguards against extreme heat. However, recent efforts at both state and federal levels signal progress in addressing this issue. States like Colorado have implemented new heat protections, while others, including Maryland and Oregon, are in the process of developing heat regulations.
As temperatures continue to rise and extreme heat events become more frequent and severe, the urgency to implement comprehensive heat protections for workers grows. This map offers insights into the status of existing or proposed heat standards across the nation, highlighting the number of workers at risk and the types of workers covered by these standards.
FOR YOUR HEALTH
Soap — More Fecal Bacteria Than Toilet!
Bulk soap dispensers have long been a fixture in restrooms due to their cost-effectiveness, environmental friendliness, and ease of use. However, recent studies have raised concerns about their hygiene and safety. Unlike cartridge dispensers, which use pre-sealed units of soap, bulk dispensers are susceptible to bacterial contamination, with studies finding up to 25% of them harboring harmful bacteria.
“Dr. Charles Gerba, microbiologist at the University of Arizona, led several of these studies. His team found that bacteria — including fecal bacteria from these contaminated dispensers — will stay on skin even after using the soap.
“You get more fecal bacteria on your hands than if you stuck your hands in the toilet,” says Dr. Gerba.”
The moist environment inside bulk dispensers creates an ideal breeding ground for bacteria, which can enter the system through various means, including during the mixing process or through vandalism. Vandals may even introduce bodily fluids into the soap, posing serious health risks to users. Furthermore, cleaners may dilute or top off products with water, compromising their effectiveness and introducing impurities.
While bulk soap dispensers can still be used with proper maintenance, they require frequent cleaning and sanitizing, which can be labor-intensive. Even with meticulous cleaning, stubborn biofilms may form inside the dispenser, making it difficult to remove contaminants. In such cases, experts recommend replacing the unit altogether to ensure proper hygiene and safety for building occupants.
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OSHA
How To Do a Walk on OSHA Rd.
The new OSHA rule expanding worker representation during workplace inspections has raised questions and concerns among employers and legal experts. While advocates applaud the measure for promoting worker involvement, employer representatives fear potential interference in non-union workplaces and organizing campaigns. Here’s what Bloomberg Law has to say about it.
The rule allows for third-party worker representatives during inspections, but the criteria for their selection and involvement remain unclear. Employers are advised to seek clarification from OSHA inspectors before inspections begin regarding the designated representative's qualifications and necessity for the inspection.
Challenges include ensuring that third-party representatives are not tipped off about inspections in advance and clarifying their role, which appears limited to the walkaround portion of inspections. Implementation may vary across OSHA area offices, leading to differing expectations regarding worker participation.
Despite concerns, advocates argue that third-party involvement can enhance inspections by facilitating communication, especially for non-English-speaking workers. The rule's emphasis on worker involvement may encourage greater worker participation in identifying workplace hazards during inspections.
FOOD PROCESSING
When It Comes To Wings, How Fast Is Too Fast?
The poultry industry in the United States is under scrutiny due to ongoing concerns about workplace safety, despite significant automation in the processing of chickens. Workers still face risks such as getting caught in machinery, cuts from knives, and repetitive stress injuries, as outlined by OSHA. One contentious issue is the line speed—the rate at which workers process chickens—regulated by the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). While the FSIS has capped line speeds at 140 birds per minute since 2014, there have been efforts to increase this limit.
Critics argue that higher line speeds put workers—especially those from marginalized communities—at greater risk, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite objections, some industry players continue to push for increased line speeds. The National Chicken Council defends faster line speeds, citing international standards, but critics point out disparities in workplace regulations and enforcement between countries.
Scholars have also weighed in on the issue, highlighting racialized myths that drive meatpacking companies' disregard for worker safety, proposing reforms to prioritize worker safety and animal welfare, and evaluating federal efforts to protect meat and poultry workers during the pandemic. Additionally, a report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) highlights missed opportunities for collaboration between regulatory agencies in ensuring worker safety during the COVID-19 pandemic.
EPA
EPA’s New Requirement?
The EPA has proposed a rule requiring chemical manufacturers and importers of 16 different chemicals to submit data from unpublished health and safety studies. This data would include information on chemical safety and its effects on the environment, workers, consumers, and the general population. The aim is to aid the EPA in prioritizing, evaluating, and managing risks associated with these chemicals under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), thus enhancing human health and environmental protection.
The proposed rule specifically targets five chemicals associated with cancer, including acetaldehyde, acrylonitrile, benzenamine, 4,4’-Methylene bis(2-chloroaniline) (MBOCA), and vinyl chloride. These chemicals are commonly used in various manufacturing processes, particularly in plastics production. EPA's review process, initiated in December, aims to prioritize these chemicals for risk evaluation under TSCA, considering their carcinogenic potential.
Additionally, the proposal encompasses 11 other chemicals identified in a 2014 TSCA Work Plan update. Comments on the proposal are due by May 28, providing stakeholders with an opportunity to contribute to the rulemaking process.
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NEWS
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