9th Edition Monday Morning Newsletter

Good morning! As we cross the 2 month milestone of our Monday newsletter, we hope we’ve been bringing you valuable insight and knowledge to start your week. As we continue to grow, our focus is to continue adding value to you. To all of you who have been joining us in this journey, thank you, and here’s too many more! So if you’re ready, grab yourself your favorite morning beverage and let’s dive in to this weeks edition.

THIS WEEK’S TIPS

Tips you’ll find in this weeks edition:

• Chemical Safety and Compliance

• State Regulatory Changes

• Top 10 Safety Articles

CHEMICAL SAFETY
Can you hear me now?

You might not be in agriculture but, if you’re located within a third of a mile of a farm the risk pesticide use is still a concern for you. New research reveals that living near farmland significantly increases exposure to glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup herbicide, associated with health concerns like non-Hodgkin lymphoma and higher preterm birth risk. Environmental health scientists tracked glyphosate levels in pregnant women, finding higher urinary levels within about a third of a mile from agricultural fields during spray season. Surprisingly, eating organic food reduced glyphosate levels in those far from fields but not in close proximity. Glyphosate, the most heavily used agricultural pesticide globally, has raised cancer concerns, but consensus is lacking. The study sheds light on exposure in agricultural areas amid urban expansion.

Amazon Concerns

Since we started our Monday morning newsletter, we’ve covered Amazon warehouses and their injury rates a few times (ok, more like a lot). But, in this edition we are covering another, more alarming issue being reported out of Amazon warehouses. Chemical Exposure.

“Warehouse workers at some of Amazon’s facilities have to handle potentially hazardous materials every day....”, as being reported in the Seattle Times article.

In January, inspectors from the Washington Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) issued a citation to Amazon's Spokane warehouse, noting inadequate training for workers in handling hazardous chemicals and a lack of ensured eye protection for employees. Not surprisingly, Amazon denied the claims and yet, during the inspection of the Spokane warehouse last year, L&I discovered instances where Amazon employees were not using eye protection when dealing with packages that had the potential to leak. Additionally, the department found that frozen items were prone to exploding during the winter, as reported by six interviewed employees.

Workers responsible for hazardous chemicals lacked effective training in identifying materials and understanding associated risks, according to L&I allegations. Some employees relied on unconventional methods, such as determining hazardous content based on the container's "glare or shimmer" or using smell-induced nausea as an indicator. In July 2022, L&I initiated an inspection of GEG1 following a complaint from a former employee. The complaint detailed a pesticide spill at their workstation, which the employee promptly cleaned up, necessitating a change of gloves as the initial pair was soaked through. About 30 minutes later, the employee experienced itchiness and sought assistance at the wellness center on the first floor of Amazon's warehouse. The remedy included a clean shirt and antihistamines.

L&I emphasized in its citation that Amazon associates handle various chemicals, including household cleaners and pesticides. The citation alleged that due to Amazon's failure to ensure proper training, workers might be unaware of the hazards associated with the materials and the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) to use.

During the inspection, L&I found deficiencies in the eyewash stations at Amazon's Spokane warehouse. Some employees had to traverse a quarter of a mile to reach a station, and one station was allegedly behind a locked door. In response to these findings, Amazon added three more eyewash stations during the course of L&I's six-day site visit (that’s nice 🙃).

The concerns add to previous criticisms of Amazon's workplace safety practices and we will continue to follow any updates.

NIOSH Warning on Workplace Chemicals and Hearing Loss

Chemicals known as ototoxicants can lead to hearing loss, warns Dr. John Howard, Director of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Workplace substances such as antineoplastic drugs, degreasers, fuels, lead, mercury, pesticides, solvents, and tobacco smoke can cause damage to the ears, increasing vulnerability to noise-induced harm or resulting in hearing loss. Exposure occurs through inhalation, skin absorption, or ingestion, allowing ototoxic chemicals to travel through the bloodstream and harm the inner ear or nerves. NIOSH has updated its webpage on Noise and Occupational Hearing Loss to provide information on ototoxic chemicals, industries using them, and ways to minimize exposure. Workers are advised to follow chemical requirements, wear appropriate protective gear, and consider all risk factors for comprehensive hazard control.

You Chemical Safety and Compliance

Looking to up your chemical safety game? Check out this resource from Occupational Health and Safety here.

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ODD WORKPLACE INJURIES
Cirque du “NO”

Las Vegas' premier production company faces two "Serious" violations from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) following an incident at the Bellagio's "O" show on June 28. The artist, Kyle Mitrione, suffered serious injuries during a new act called "Island." OSHA imposed fines totaling $31,250, the maximum for on-site work violations.

The accident occurred during the 9:30 p.m. performance, where Mitrione, a former Purdue University diving standout, attempted a back-dive from the rising Island platform into the aquatic stage. Unfortunately, he struck the platform head-first, resulting in a fractured neck and other serious injuries.

OSHA's investigation revealed that Cirque du Soleil failed to provide adequate audio or visual cues for artists to know when it was safe to dive into shallow water. Additionally, Cirque was penalized for requiring artists to wear body belts as a "fall arrest system" during high-dive and trapeze acts, exposing them to potential serious injuries.

Mitrione, currently rehabilitating at Craig Hospital in Colorado, underwent a five-hour emergency surgery after the incident. OSHA's penalties follow a nearly four-month investigation into the circumstances surrounding the accident. The Island scene, initially removed, reportedly returned to the production on Nov. 24.

Cirque du Soleil responded to the findings, emphasizing their commitment to the health, safety, and well-being of their artists, crew, and administrative team. Mitrione's recovery journey involves extensive support from his well-wishers, and his Instagram feed reflects the ongoing rehabilitation process at Craig Hospital.

REGULATIONS
Changes coming to your state?  

To enhance worker safety in Michigan's expanding cannabis industry, the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) has launched a state emphasis program covering various aspects of cannabis production. With the cannabis sector witnessing significant growth since its recreational legalization in 2018, MIOSHA aims to address the occupational safety and health hazards prevalent in over 1,000 dispensaries, 1,000 growers, and 228 processors. The initiative includes a cannabis safety webpage offering free resources, fact sheets, and educational video sessions co-hosted by the Michigan Cannabis Regulatory Agency. The videos focus on MIOSHA's Consultation Education and Training Division, hazard communication, personal protective equipment, and cover essential topics like MIOSHA requirements for new businesses, chemical exposure concerns, workplace posters, administrative rules, injury reporting, safety data sheets, and various workplace hazards. The emphasis program reflects a proactive approach to safeguarding workers in this evolving industry.

Minnesota goes Ergo

Minnesota has a new ergonomic law and the Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) is conducting a webinar focused on it. This law applies to specific licensed healthcare facilities, warehouse distribution centers with 100 or more employees, and meatpacking businesses with 100 or more employees. The legislation mandates the establishment of an ergonomics program in these facilities, encompassing several key elements:

1. An assessment to identify and mitigate musculoskeletal disorder risk factors.

2. Initial and ongoing employee training on ergonomics, emphasizing the importance of reporting early symptoms of musculoskeletal disorders.

3. Procedures for early reporting of musculoskeletal disorders to prevent or reduce the progression of symptoms, serious injuries, and lost-time claims.

4. A mechanism for employees to propose solutions to reduce, control, or eliminate workplace musculoskeletal disorders.

5. Protocols to ensure that physical plant modifications and major construction projects align with program goals.

6. Annual evaluations of the ergonomics program, conducted regularly and whenever work process changes occur.

To provide insights into this legislation and new regulations on warehouse worker safety, the DLI is hosting an informational webinar titled "Minnesota OSHA Ergonomics and Warehousing Legislative Update" from 10 to 11 a.m. on December 13, 2023. Interested parties can register for the webinar, which aims to cover the recently enacted ergonomics and warehousing distribution worker statutes.

Additionally, there is an Ergonomic Safety Grant Program that offers qualifying employers matching funds, up to $10,000, for implementing ergonomic improvements recommended by on-site safety surveys. Employers can find answers to frequently asked questions about the Safety Grant Program to enhance workplace safety in compliance with the new ergonomics law here.

Register for the webinar here.

South Carolina is “low and slow”

The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) has petitioned the federal government to transfer workplace safety oversight from South Carolina regulators, citing inadequacies in the state's enforcement program and inspection force. SEIU contends that South Carolina falls short in inspections, conducting 50% fewer than federal expectations in 2018 and lagging behind neighboring states and the national average in 2022. Additionally, the union highlights weaker sanctions for serious safety violations in the state. SEIU's filing follows a civil rights complaint accusing the South Carolina Occupational Safety and Health Administration of racial discrimination. The union hopes federal pressure will lead to reforms, similar to those witnessed in Arizona following federal intervention.

California Deadline Approaches

Effective January 1, 2024, California Senate Bill 553 amends Code of Civil Procedure section 527.8, allowing employers to seek a temporary restraining order on behalf of employees who have experienced unlawful violence or a credible threat at the workplace. By January 1, 2025, the law extends this right to collective bargaining representatives. SB 553 also amends the Labor Code, requiring most California employers to establish a written workplace violence prevention plan by July 1, 2024. Exceptions apply to certain employers, and the law mandates initial and annual employee training, record-keeping, and accessibility of the prevention plan to all employees. More info on this can be found here.

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NEWS
Your Virtual Water Cooler

• 2nd director of AZ Division of Occupational Safety and Health steps down.

• Top 10 workplace safety articles.

• Workplace injury and illness rate remains at historically low level in N.C.

• Georgia ranks top 5 states with biggest increase in fatal workplace injuries.

• $9M grant to help train occupational health professionals.

• Vermont Law: Safety requirements lacking for farmworkers exposed pesticides.

• How One Senior Care Facility Creates a Safer Workplace for Staff.

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