April 2010 - The Pump Handle - The Network of Care

Too Sad

by Kathy Snyder, cross-posted from MineSafetyWatch All of our hearts are so full this morning with the sad news that the last four missing miners were found dead. In all, 29 miners have died from the explosion. It is the worst coal mining accident in...

Published Sat, Apr 10 2010 11:23 AM by The Pump Handle

Filed under: Occupational Health & Safety, Confined Space @ TPH, Regulation, Mining, Safety, MSHA

MSHA’s bandaid approach turns deadly

Last month, the US Dept of Labor (DOL) and MSHA were celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Coal Mine Health and Safety Act. Their proclamations said: “…this law represents a watershed moment in the improvement of occupational health and...

Published Fri, Apr 09 2010 2:46 PM by The Pump Handle

Filed under: Regulation, Mining, Safety, Combustible Dust, MSHA

Pattern of Violations at Upper Big Branch

Rescue workers entered the Upper Big Branch Mine in Montcoal this morning to search for the four miners still unaccounted for after Monday’s explosion, but they were called back out when air sampling showed unsafe air quality. Reporters, members of Congress...

Published Thu, Apr 08 2010 1:54 PM by The Pump Handle

Filed under: Confined Space @ TPH, Mining, MSHA

Rescue Efforts Continue, and Reporters Consider Mine Safety Issues

Ken Ward Jr. of the Charleston Gazette has an update at his Coal Tattoo blog on the rescue efforts at Upper Big Branch Mine. Crews have drilled a hole into the mine and hope to send a rescue crew in later today. They banged on a pipe (nice 21st-century...

Published Wed, Apr 07 2010 7:40 AM by The Pump Handle

Filed under: Occupational Health & Safety, Confined Space @ TPH, Mining

West Virginia Mine Explosion Kills 25

Hours after 114 Chinese mine workers were rescued from the flooded Wangjialing mine, 25 coal miners were killed by an explosion at Massey Energy’s Upper Big Branch Mine in Raleigh County, West Virginia. Four workers remain unaccounted for, and resuce...

Published Tue, Apr 06 2010 7:12 AM by The Pump Handle

Filed under: Mining

Asbestos in Toys and Tools – and Across the Americas

During National Asbestos Disease Awareness Week (April 1-7), we’ll be cross-posting a piece every day from the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization. Today’s post has two parts. Asbestos in Toys and Tools By Paul Zygielbaum, ADAO Product Testing...

Published Tue, Apr 06 2010 6:40 AM by The Pump Handle

Filed under: Environmental Health

Public health community calls for global ban on asbestos

The painful and deadly toll that asbestos imposes on families across the globe is a public health problem of growing magnitude. In the U.S., individuals who are diagnosed today with asbestos-related disease may trace their exposure to the lethal mineral...

Published Mon, Apr 05 2010 4:02 PM by The Pump Handle

Filed under: Occupational Health & Safety, Confined Space @ TPH, Regulation, Mining, Environmental Health, Manufacturing Uncertainty, OSHA, Cancer

114 Rescued from Chinese Mine

After being trapped in a flooded coal mine for more than a week, 114 of 153 workers have been rescued from the Wangjialing mine in China’s Shanxi province. The Los Angeles Times reports: The first rescue early Monday morning had seemed beyond hope...

Published Mon, Apr 05 2010 2:38 PM by The Pump Handle

Filed under: Mining

CDC’s National Conversation Happening Now

One of our readers passed along a reminder that CDC and ATSDR’s first “National Conversation on Public Health and Chemical Exposures” web dialogue is going on right now. From April 5-7, online participants will discuss topics introduced...

Published Mon, Apr 05 2010 2:08 PM by The Pump Handle

Filed under: Chemicals Policy

What About My Health?

During National Asbestos Disease Awareness Week (April 1-7), we’ll be cross-posting a piece every day from the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization. By Arthur L. Frank, PhD, MD; cross-posted from Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization Rare diseases...

Published Mon, Apr 05 2010 11:34 AM by The Pump Handle

Filed under: Environmental Health

When an OSHA “national” emphasis program isn’t

I’ve been following the news coverage of the catastrophe at the Tesoro refinery in Anacortes, Washington (here, here, here, here). Mr. Daniel Aldridge, 50, Mr. Darrin J Hoines, 43, Ms. Donna Van Dreumel, 36, Mr. Matt Bowen, and Ms. Kathryn Powell...

Published Sun, Apr 04 2010 10:21 AM by The Pump Handle

Filed under: Occupational Health & Safety, Confined Space @ TPH, Regulation, Safety, OSHA

Asbestos in Homes and Schools

During National Asbestos Disease Awareness Week (April 1-7), we’ll be cross-posting a piece every day from the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization. Today’s post includes two parts. ASBESTOS IN THE HOME By J. Brent Kynoch, Managing Director,...

Published Sun, Apr 04 2010 3:19 AM by The Pump Handle

Filed under: Environmental Health

Washington State OSHA deleted serious citations: prelude to disaster at Tesoro refinery that killed five?

by the spirit of Tony Mazzocchi The Washington Department of Labor and Industries, Division of Occupational Safety & Health (DOSH) inspected the Tesoro Anacortes refinery in 2008 and found major safety problems. In a settlement agreement, however...

Published Sat, Apr 03 2010 4:00 PM by The Pump Handle

Filed under: Occupational Health & Safety, Confined Space @ TPH, Safety, OSHA

NIOSH scientists say political pressures inhibit them from ‘controversial’ research

The Pump Handle is pleased to provide the full text of an article, published in the Bureau of National Affairs’ “Occupational Safety & Health Reporter,” on SKAPP’s Scientists in Government project report.* by Stephen Lee A...

Published Sat, Apr 03 2010 12:51 PM by The Pump Handle

Filed under: Occupational Health & Safety, Research, Politics, Science, Sequestered Science

Asbestos: Cover Up of a Century

During National Asbestos Disease Awareness Week (April 1-7), we’ll be cross-posting a piece every day from the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization. By Kenneth A. Cook, Co-founder and President, Environmental Working Group; cross-posted from Asbestos...

Published Sat, Apr 03 2010 11:13 AM by The Pump Handle

Filed under: Environmental Health

April 2010 - The Pump Handle

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Too Sad

MSHA’s bandaid approach turns deadly

Pattern of Violations at Upper Big Branch

Rescue Efforts Continue, and Reporters Consider Mine Safety Issues

West Virginia Mine Explosion Kills 25

Asbestos in Toys and Tools – and Across the Americas

Public health community calls for global ban on asbestos

114 Rescued from Chinese Mine

CDC’s National Conversation Happening Now

What About My Health?

When an OSHA “national” emphasis program isn’t

Asbestos in Homes and Schools

Washington State OSHA deleted serious citations: prelude to disaster at Tesoro refinery that killed five?

NIOSH scientists say political pressures inhibit them from ‘controversial’ research

Asbestos: Cover Up of a Century