The Pump Handle

Secretary Solis, speak louder and more often on worker health and safety

by the Spirit of Frances Perkins During last week’s Latino Action Summit on Worker Health and Safety in Houston, Labor Secretary Solis said: “…I am urging Congress to pass the Protecting Americas Workers Act to give vulnerable workers...

Published Mon, Apr 19 2010 7:48 PM by The Pump Handle

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

Sustainable Safety and Health

On April 1, 2010, OSHA sponsored a green jobs information session. The purpose of the session was to describe OSHA’s green job efforts and discuss workplace hazards associated with green jobs. A blog post written here provided a less-than-enthusiastic...

Published Thu, Apr 15 2010 11:10 AM by The Pump Handle

Filed under: Occupational Health & Safety, Environmental Health, Uncategorized, OSHA

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

Andrew Schneider Investigates Federal (In)Action on Nano Risks

Pulitzer-winning investigative reporter Andrew Schneider broke the story of the asbestos poisoning of Libby, Montana, and now he’s digging into the use of another substance that has the potential to become equally widespread before its risks to human...

Published Thu, Mar 25 2010 12:42 PM by The Pump Handle

Filed under: Occupational Health & Safety, Food, Environmental Health, Nanotechnology

What is Asbestos and Why is it Bad for Our 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 Richard Lemen, PhD, MSPH, Assistant Surgeon General, USPHS (Ret.) & Rear Admiral (Ret.); cross...

Published Fri, Apr 02 2010 9:34 AM by The Pump Handle

Filed under: Environmental Health

When to use antivirals for swine flu

by revere, cross-posted from Effect Measure We’ve gotten the question here fairly frequently: If antivirals (Tamiflu, Relenza) for swine flu work best when given early but shouldn’t be given to people who aren’t really that sick, how...

Published Thu, Oct 22 2009 6:25 AM by The Pump Handle

Filed under: Influenza

Why I am getting both seasonal and swine flu vaccines and why you should, too

by revere, cross-posted from Effect Measure I’ve been asked a number of times why I am bothering to get both flu vaccines this year (the seasonal flu trivalent vaccine and the swine flu vaccine when it is my turn). I am in the older age group (last...

Published Thu, Oct 15 2009 5:22 AM by The Pump Handle

Filed under: Influenza

Local lawmakers move to ban California’s killer rock

by Andrew Schneider, cross-posted from Cold Truth California has a killer state rock. No, really. Its official state rock is serpentine which usually contains asbestos, which has killed hundreds of thousands of people. Late last night, by unanimous vote...

Published Mon, Oct 26 2009 7:14 AM by The Pump Handle

Filed under: Environmental Health

Why CDC says this year’s flu season is “very sobering”

by revere, cross-posted from Effect Measure Monday morning, start of week three of the official flu season (which began October 4). CDC’s scientific spokeswoman on the flu, Dr. Anne Schuchat has said we are seeing “unprecedented” flu...

Published Mon, Oct 19 2009 2:07 PM by The Pump Handle

Filed under: Influenza

Port Wentworth Tragedy Profitable for PR Firm

Each year, the Public Relations Society of America gives a Silver Anvil Award, which “acknowledges the very highest level of achievement and is the established icon of the ‘best of the best’ public relations practices.” The latest Silver Anvil has just...

Published Tue, Nov 10 2009 11:14 AM by The Pump Handle

Filed under: Occupational Health & Safety, Combustible Dust

OHS Rocks! at APHA

It’s time for me to boast about the most amazing assembly of worker H&S researchers and activists: the OHS Section of the American Public Health Association. We closed out our 95th year with the association adopting three progressive policy...

Published Fri, Nov 20 2009 9:15 AM by The Pump Handle

Filed under: Occupational Health & Safety, Confined Space @ TPH, Healthcare, Regulation, Mining, Workers' Compensation, APHA Annual Meeting

Happy Holidays

The Pump Handle will be on vacation from now through early January. We wish all of our readers and friends a healthy, peaceful 2010! Read More...

Published Tue, Dec 22 2009 7:48 AM by The Pump Handle

Filed under: Uncategorized

New Year’s Celebrations

The start of the New Year means different things to different people, e.g., a fresh start to dieting, exercise, or financial savings…and, a fresh start to promoting human health and the environment. Here’s a sample of State and local regulations...

Published Fri, Dec 18 2009 10:33 AM by The Pump Handle

Filed under: Regulation, Environmental Health

Is MSHA speaking clearly on coal dust limit?

by Ken Ward, Jr., cross-posted from Coal Tattoo I checked out the Web chat that Joe Main, assistant labor secretary in charge of the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), had this afternoon to discuss the MSHA portion of the Department of Labor...

Published Tue, Dec 08 2009 4:30 PM by The Pump Handle

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

Peer review problems: just in the Nature of things

by revere, cross-posted from Effect Measure The Nature blog, The Great Beyond, has an interesting although not surprising report of accusations on BBC that a cabal of researchers has been impeding publication of important stem cell research to help themselves...

Published Wed, Feb 03 2010 6:21 AM by The Pump Handle

Filed under: Science

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Secretary Solis, speak louder and more often on worker health and safety

Sustainable Safety and Health

Asbestos in Toys and Tools – and Across the Americas

Andrew Schneider Investigates Federal (In)Action on Nano Risks

What is Asbestos and Why is it Bad for Our Health?

When to use antivirals for swine flu

Why I am getting both seasonal and swine flu vaccines and why you should, too

Local lawmakers move to ban California’s killer rock

Why CDC says this year’s flu season is “very sobering”

Port Wentworth Tragedy Profitable for PR Firm

OHS Rocks! at APHA

Happy Holidays

New Year’s Celebrations

Is MSHA speaking clearly on coal dust limit?

Peer review problems: just in the Nature of things