Occupational Safety & Health Reporter: Current Reports Index-Summary

SAFETY AND HEALTH PROGRAMS

– OSHA priority under new administration, White tells symposium, 347
– Prevention Through Design, NIOSH releases draft risk reduction plan, 423

SANITATION FACILITIES

– Bridge painting company faces fine for safety violations, 98

SCAFFOLDS

– Collapse at Miss. power plant results in fines against insulation company, 265
– Mast climbing standard could be in place this year, conference told, 158
– Roofing contractor faces fines for alleged hazards at Mass. site, 368

SCHOOLS

See EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS

SEAT BELTS

– Construction industry, failure to use most frequently cited in FY2008 under general duty clause, conference told, 157

SERVICE INDUSTRIES

– Slip on steps, workers' compensation sole remedy, employer granted summary judgment (E.D. Pa.), 84
– Steam cleaning business settles whistleblowing violations, 282

SETTLEMENTS

– Asbestos, boiler tender on Naval destroyers accepts $3.2M settlement in failure to warn case (Cal. Super. Ct.), 182
– Fall protection, concrete contractor settles violations at N.J. job site with $750,000 fine, 156
– Field Operations Manual, OSHA releases revision, industry expresses concern over §17 designations, 280
– Nuclear facilities, TVA contractor settles charges of false safety reports with $6.2M, 76

SHIPS AND SHIPPING

– Asbestos

– – Boiler tender on Naval destroyers accepts $3.2M settlement (Cal. Super. Ct.), 182
– – Machinist in Navy exposed, wife due $2.9M damages (Cal. Super. Ct.), 412
– – Naval Equipment Manufacturers to pay $14M to 3 veterans in reverse-bifurcated trial (Pa. Ct. Common Pleas), 353
– – Seaman widow's evidence insufficient, $8M award excessive, new trial ordered (N.D. Ohio), 292
– – Third-party product hazards, equipment suppliers had no duty to warn (Cal. Ct. App.), 182

– Bladder cancer link to on-the-job exposure to anti-rusting product, diesel exhaust not shown (5th Cir.), 372
– Container stacking at marine terminals, MACOSH study top priority, 262

SHIPYARDS

– Dismantlers face fines following inspection at Mass. site, 65
– Drydock faces fine for fatal crane accident at Ontario facility, 121

SICK BUILDING SYNDROME

– Retaliatory discharge, employee fired after alleging symptoms, claims allowed (N.D. Ill.), 15

SILICA (7631-86-9)

– Advisory committee work group requests to review guidance documents in advance, OSHA rejects request, 322; OSHA publishes silica exposure guidance without union, advisory committee review, 364
– Regulatory agenda, OSHA publishes semiannual list, 388

SILICOSIS

– Respirator maker cannot pursue establishment of non-settling insurer's duty in event of future contribution action (E.D. Wis.), 100

SMALL BUSINESSES

– Cranes and derricks, SBA seeks alternatives to operator certification requirements in proposed rule, 63
– Diacetyl and food flavorings, OSHA convenes regulatory review panel, 340; OSHA sends draft proposal to small business representatives, 367
– Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals, attorney says review of OSHA proposed rule needed, 443

SMOKING

– Casinos, NIOSH recommends ban after finding evidence of environmental tobacco smoke exposures, 387
– Federal buildings, GSA bulletin prohibits cigarette smoking in owned or leased buildings, 10
– Va. ban, House rejects Senate bill, 137
– Wis. ban, governor signs bill covering workplaces, public places, 447

SPAIN

– Work-related illnesses, computerized warning system to identify workplaces with higher risk, 200

SPECIAL REPORTS

– Globally Harmonized System for Classification and Labeling of Chemicals studies uncovers MSDS flaws, 50
– 2009 job safety outlook, SplRpt (1/22/09) S–5 et seq.

SPORTS INDUSTRY

– Football practice facility collapse prompts OSHA investigation, 368

STAA

See SURFACE TRANSPORTATION ASSISTANCE ACT (STAA)

STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

See also specific states
– Motor carriers, GAO says Performance and Registration Information Systems Management program potential promising, but effect on driver safety difficult to measure, 407
– Swine flu outbreak, SEIU finds health departments disregarding CDC guidance, 384

STATE PLANS

See also specific states
– Job safety outlook, 2009, SplRpt (1/22/09) S–25
– Rulemaking, Foulke predicts increased activity in 2009, 244

STATISTICS

– Enforcement and cooperative program data, job safety outlook, 2009, SplRpt (1/22/09) S–28
– Fatalities

– – Alberta number rose in 2008, official says, 348
– – Asbestos, malignant mesothelioma rates rise due to latent worker exposure, NIOSH reports, 346
– – Construction industry, non-construction workers at sites suffer higher rates, conference told, 158
– – Contractors, BLS to begin recording in 2011, 135
– – Job safety outlook, 2009, SplRpt (1/22/09) S–28
– – Tree care work death toll spans multiple industries, NIOSH study finds, 347
– – 2007, BLS revision raises total, rate remains lowest ever recorded, 324

– Injuries and illnesses

– – Alberta number down in 2008, official says, 348
– – High rates, OSHA notifies 13,500 employer of unusually high rates, 323
– – Job safety outlook, 2009, SplRpt (1/22/09) S–28

STATUTES OF LIMITATIONS

– Ind., wrongful death limitations period applies in case based on underlying product liability claim (Ind.), 32

STEEL INDUSTRY

See IRON AND STEEL INDUSTRY

SUBSTANCE ABUSE

– Medical marijuana, safety advocates support Or. bills restricting use on job, 264
– Truck drivers, outgoing FMSCA chief anticipates drug and alcohol results clearinghouse standard, 44

SUGAR INDUSTRY

– Combustible dust, Fla. company faces fine for violations, 218
– Refinery explosion and fire, Review Comm'n sets hearing date for Imperial Sugar appeal of $8.8M fine, 281

SUPREME COURT, U.S.

– Asbestos exposure

– – Fear of developing cancer, court's refusal to give jury instruction on “genuine and serious” error (rev grant and rem), 454
– – FELA or LBIA do not preempt state filing requirements (rev den), 46

– Sotomayor nominated as justice by Obama, 433

SURFACE TRANSPORTATION ASSISTANCE ACT (STAA)

– Whistleblower protections, retroactive application of amendment affects company's rights (8th Cir.), 12

SWINE INFLUENZA VIRUS

– Airborne transmissible disease standard needed to protect workplaces and schools, Miller (D-Cal) says, 383
– Border officers, Homeland Security Dept. policy denying respirators criticized at congressional hearing, 405
– Flight attendants petition FAA for protections, 363
– Health care workers

– – CDC revises guidance following criticism, 344; union finds state health departments disregarding guidance, 384
– – OSHA considers airborne transmissible disease standard, enforcement of CDC guidance as options to protect workers, 362
– – Unions urge OSHA to issue hazard alert, compliance directive, 423

– OSHA issues Quick Note guidances for general workplaces, health care settings, 384