The Roles of Government in Protecting and Promoting Occupational and Environmental Health

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregory R. Wagner ◽  
Emily A. Spieler
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Health ◽  
Environmental Protection Agency ◽  
Occupational Safety ◽  
Mine Safety ◽  
Health Administration ◽  
Safety And Health ◽  
Standards And Regulations ◽  
Regulatory Interventions ◽  
The Government ◽  
The U.S

This chapter discusses the roles of government in promoting occupational and environmental health, with a focus on the U.S. federal government. Governmental interventions, as described here, can range from non-regulatory interventions, such as dissemination of information or generation and communication of information, to establishing regulatory requirements through the promulgation and enforcement of standards and regulations. The chapter describes the U.S. laws and roles of the administrative agencies responsible for occupational and environmental health, including the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the Mine Safety and Health Administration, and the Environmental Protection Agency. Noting the budgetary and political constraints on these federal agencies, the chapter goes on to discuss briefly the role of the public and the states. The government also plays a role when preventive efforts fail, and the chapter provides a brief summary of programs designed to provide compensation to injured workers.

Analysis of workplace compliance measurements of asbestos by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (1984–2011)

2015 ◽  
Vol 72 (3) ◽  
pp. 615-629 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dallas M. Cowan ◽  
Thales J. Cheng ◽  
Matthew Ground ◽  
Jennifer Sahmel ◽  
Allysha Varughese ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Occupational Safety ◽  
Occupational Safety And Health ◽  
Health Administration ◽  
Safety And Health ◽  
The U.S

Analysis of Shoulder Sprains and Strains in Mining

2021 ◽  
Vol 65 (1) ◽  
pp. 1371-1375
Author(s):  
Madison Larsen ◽  
Ashley Whitson ◽  
Jonisha Pollard ◽  
Mahiyar Nasarwanji
Keyword(s):  
Material Handling ◽  
Mitigation Strategies ◽  
Mine Safety ◽  
Sprains And Strains ◽  
Shoulder Injuries ◽  
Health Administration ◽  
Safety And Health ◽  
The U.S

Material handling injuries reported to the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) result in nearly 70,000 days of work lost each year. Several mitigation efforts for these injuries focus on the back, but shoulder injuries account for four times the days lost. Nonfatal incidents reported to MSHA from 2013 through 2017 were limited to shoulder sprains and strains and were analyzed to determine what contributed the most to these injuries. Injuries were coded based on the task performed, motions involved, and the tools used. The analysis indicated that auto maintenance and tasks involving loading/unloading supplies led to the highest number of injuries. Many of these injuries were related to operating equipment or the use of specific tools. The injuries often involved lifting/lowering or pulling/pushing movements. These findings suggest future mitigation strategies for the risk of shoulder sprains and strains should focus on auto maintenance and tasks involving loading/unloading supplies.

scholarly journals Letter to the Editor: License Portability for Occupational Audiologists is Essential

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 81-82
Author(s):  
George R. Cook
Keyword(s):  
Occupational Safety ◽  
Occupational Safety And Health ◽  
Mine Safety ◽  
Individual State ◽  
Health Administration ◽  
Hearing Conservation ◽  
Safety And Health ◽  
National Organizations ◽  
State Programs ◽  
The Cost

Occupational audiologists have a crisis in their profession and need advocates. These audiologists are primarily responsible for industrial hearing conservation programs and their compliance with multiple regulations, such as Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) and the Federal Railroad Administration.  Occupational hearing programs, for the most part, are multi-state programs as companies and corporations are national organizations. Also, companies may contract services across state lines as local services may not be desired or available. Individual state telepractice regulations require audiologists who are professionally supervising these programs via the internet and phone, to secure licensure in each state. For this licensure redundancy, the cost in time and tracking are enormous.  It is imperative that the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), secure multistate licensure for speech-language pathologists and audiologists. For the profession of occupational audiology, it is essential.Keywords: Licensure, Occupational audiologists, Telehealth, Telepractice

scholarly journals Systemic Management of Pandemic Risks in Dental Practice: A Consolidated Framework for COVID-19 Control in Dentistry

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Habib Benzian ◽  
Eugenio Beltrán-Aguilar ◽  
Richard Niederman
Keyword(s):  
Infection Control ◽  
Occupational Safety ◽  
Risk Mitigation ◽  
Healthcare Setting ◽  
Mitigation Measures ◽  
Health Administration ◽  
Safety And Health ◽  
Clinical Responses ◽  
And Control ◽  
The U.S

Dental teams and their workplaces are among the most exposed to airborne and bloodborne infectious agents, and therefore at the forefront of pandemic-related changes to how dental care is organized and provided to patients. The increasing complexity of guidelines makes is challenging for clinicians to navigate the multitude of COVID-19 guidelines issued by different agencies. A comparative analysis of guidance issued for managing COVID-19 in dental settings leading U.S. agencies was conducted, including documents of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), an agency of the U.S. Secretary of Labor, and of the U.S. Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC), an agency of the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services. Details of infection control and other risk mitigation measures were reviewed for consistency, overlaps and similarities, then clustered according to thematic areas covering all domains of managing a dental healthcare setting. The analysis revealed five distinct areas of pandemic control, comprising (1) planning and protocols, (2) patient screening, (3) preparation of facilities, (4) PPE and infection control, and (5) procedures and aerosol control; thereby covering systematically all aspects requiring adaptation in a pandemic context. The “Pandemic-5 Framework for COVID-19 Control in Dentistry” provides an opportunity to simplify comprehensive decision-making from a clinical practitioner perspective. The framework supports a comprehensive systems-driven approach by using dental clinics as a setting to integrate pandemic clinical responses with the implementation of appropriate infection control protocols. Traditionally these two aspects are addressed independently from each other in separate concepts.

Commercial Diving Operations During Salvage and Pollution Response Operations1

2003 ◽  
Vol 2003 (1) ◽  
pp. 153-159 ◽  
Author(s):  
James E. Elliott
Keyword(s):  
Oil Spill ◽  
Occupational Safety ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Coast Guard ◽  
Occupational Safety And Health ◽  
Hazardous Substance ◽  
Health Administration ◽  
Safety And Health ◽  
Oil Spill Response ◽  
Standards And Regulations

ABSTRACT Oil spill response personnel encounter commercial diving operations during salvage and pollution response operations. During an oil spill or hazardous substance release, the National Contingency Plan requires that response operations, including commercial diving operations, be conducted in accordance with the requirements, standards, and regulations of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Additionally, the Coast Guard requires that commercial diving contractors meet their own commercial diving regulations (46 CFR 197) during response operations. Incident commanders and safety officers should ensure that an inspection of the on-site diving operation is conducted to confirm that commercial diving personnel, operations, and equipment meet the applicable regulations. This technical paper provides guidance to response personnel on the inspection of commercial diving operations during marine response operations and an overview of the equipment used to protect divers in contaminated waters. Additionally, this guidance provides checklists to facilitate the inspection of commercial diving operations to protect the health and safety of commercial divers.

scholarly journals Underground Mine Refuge Alternatives Heat Mitigation

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lincan Yan ◽  
David Yantek ◽  
Timothy Lutz ◽  
Jeffrey Yonkey ◽  
Justin Srednicki
Keyword(s):  
Occupational Safety ◽  
Thermal Conditions ◽  
Mitigation Strategies ◽  
Mine Safety ◽  
Apparent Temperature ◽  
Health Administration ◽  
Adverse Conditions ◽  
Air Supply ◽  
Safety And Health ◽  
Carbon Dioxide Co2

Abstract In case of an emergency in an underground coal mine, miners who fail to escape from the mine can enter a refuge alternative (RA) for protection from adverse conditions, such as high carbon monoxide levels. One of the main concerns with the use of both portable and built-in-place (BIP) RAs, especially for hot or deep mines, is the interior temperature rise due to the occupants' metabolic heat and the heat released by devices such as the carbon dioxide (CO2) scrubbing system. The humidity within the RA will also increase through occupants' respiration and perspiration and from the chemical reaction within the CO2 scrubbing system. Heat and humidity buildup can subject the occupants to hazardous thermal conditions. To protect RA occupants, Mine Safety and Health Administration regulations mandate a maximum apparent temperature of 95 °F within an occupied RA. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) tested both an air-conditioned borehole air supply (BAS) and a cryogenic air supply for RAs in the NIOSH Experimental Mine in Bruceton, PA. The BAS was tested on a 60-person BIP RA, while the cryogenic air supply was tested on a 30-person BIP RA and a portable 23-person tent-type RA. Multiple tests were conducted with both air supplies to assess their ability to cool RAs. The test results show that the BAS and the cryogenic air supply were able to maintain the apparent temperature within the tested RAs under the 95 °F limit. The BAS and the cryogenic air supply are potential RA heat mitigation strategies that mines could use to prevent heat/humidity buildup within RAs.

In-Mine Experimental Investigation of Temperature Rise and Development of a Validated Thermal Simulation Model of a Mobile Refuge Alternative

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lincan Yan ◽  
David Yantek ◽  
Pete Bissert ◽  
Mark Klein
Keyword(s):  
Simulation Model ◽  
Air Temperature ◽  
Occupational Safety ◽  
Ventilation System ◽  
Thermal Simulation ◽  
Mine Safety ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Health Administration ◽  
Safety Research ◽  
Safety And Health

Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) regulations require underground coal mines to use refuge alternatives (RAs) to provide a breathable air environment for 96 hrs. One of the main concerns with the use of mobile RAs is the heat and humidity buildup inside the RA. The accumulation of heat and humidity can result in miners suffering heat stress or even death. To investigate this issue, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) conducted testing on a training ten-person, tent-type, RA in its Safety Research Coal Mine (SRCM) in a test area that was isolated from the mine ventilation system. The test results using sensible and latent heat showed that the average measured air temperature within the RA increased by 20.6°F (11.4°C) and the relative humidity approached 90 %RH. The test results were used to benchmark a thermal simulation model of the tested RA. The validated thermal simulation model predicted the average air temperature inside the RA, at the end of 96 hours, to within 1°F (0.6°C) of the measured average air temperature.

Interior Thermal Environment of a 6-Person Metal-Type Refuge Alternative (RA)

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lincan Yan ◽  
David Yantek ◽  
Mark Klein ◽  
Peter Bissert
Keyword(s):  
Air Temperature ◽  
Occupational Safety ◽  
Thermal Environment ◽  
Mine Safety ◽  
Apparent Temperature ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Health Administration ◽  
Safety And Health ◽  
Metal Type ◽  
Final Rule

In 2008, the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) published a final rule on Refuge Alternatives (RAs) for Underground Coal Mines [1]. The rule states that RAs should be “capable of sustaining trapped miners for 96 hours” and that RAs “can also be used to facilitate escape by sustaining trapped miners until they receive communications regarding escape options.” One of the main concerns with the use of RAs is heat and humidity buildup inside of them. The accumulation of heat and humidity could result in miners suffering heat stress or even death. MSHA regulations require that the apparent temperature in an occupied RA must not exceed 95°F. To investigate the thermal issues for occupied RAs, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) conducted several tests on mobile RAs. In this paper, the test setup on a 6-person metal-type RA is described and the test results are presented. The test results show that the average measured air temperature within the RA increased by 9.0°C (16°F) and the relative humidity (RH) approached 91 %RH at the end of the 96-hour test. The test results were also compared to predictions from a thermal simulation model of the tested RA. The model predicted the average air temperature inside the RA at the end of 96 hours to within 0.4°C (0.8°F) of the average measured air temperature. Furthermore, two sets of test data with different heat inputs were used to cross-check the model validity.

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