army industrial hygiene news library/september 2018 ihne… · army industrial hygiene news and...

\

New: 11 Best Practices for Lowering Firefighter Cancer Risk A recent report from the International Association of Fire Chiefs’ Volunteer and Combination Officers Section and the National Volunteer Fire Council details 11 best practices for minimizing cancer risk among firefighters. According to NIOSH research, nearly 30,000 firefighters who participated in a study between 2010 and 2015 had higher rates of digestive, oral, respiratory and urinary cancer than the general population. They also had nearly twice as many cases of malignant mesothelioma, a rare type of cancer triggered by asbestos exposure. The Lavender Ribbon Report, released Aug. 9, expands on a previously released poster outlining the best practices. It is intended to “provide specific guidance on how to adopt these actions into the everyday culture of fire departments.” Recommendations include:

• Wear full personal protective equipment throughout the duration of incidents, including self-contained breathing apparatus during salvage and overhaul operations.

• Change and wash clothes as soon as possible after exposure to products

of combustion or other contaminants. Isolate used clothes in a trash bag if washing facilities are not immediately available.

• Shower as soon as possible after exposure to products of combustion or other contaminants, ideally within one hour.

• Get an annual physical. • Refrain from using tobacco

products. • Include fully documented fire or

chemical exposures on incident reports and personal exposure reports.

Read more: https://www.safetyandhealthmagazine.com/articles/17451-new-11-best-practices-for-lowering-firefighter-cancer-risk

September 2018,

Issue 84

Army Industrial Hygiene News and Regulatory Summary

Hazardous Substances

Special Interest Articles: • Bio-

monitoring • Fentanyl • Pesticide

Safety • Biosecurity • Nano

Regulation

https://www.safetyandhealthmagazine.com/articles/17451-new-11-best-practices-for-lowering-firefighter-cancer-risk



of 30


Metabolite Analysis Predicts 9/11 Lung Damage

Analysis of blood samples taken from World Trade Center (WTC) firefighters soon after 9/11 led to the identification of more than two dozen metabolites that, in a retrospective analysis, reliably predicted which workers would go on to develop lung disease.

The metabolomic study identified "plausible pathways associated with loss of lung function" that could potentially lead to metabolic tests for the early detection of lung damage associated with exposure to fire, smoke, and toxic chemicals, New York University Langone School of Medicine researchers reported in BMJ Open Respiratory Research.

Read more: https://www.medpagetoday.com/publichealthpolicy/environmentalhealth/74917

Assessing the Accuracy of Commercially Available Gas Sensors for the Measurement of Ambient Ozone and Nitrogen Dioxide

The objective of the NIOSH accuracy criterion is to ensure that measurements from monitoring devices are within ± 25% of the true concentration of the analyte with 95% certainty. To determine whether NO2 and O3 sensors meet this criterion, three commercially available units (Cairclip O3/NO2, Aeroqual NO2, and Aeroqual O3 sensors) were co-located three times with

validated instruments (NOx chemiluminescence [NO2mon] and photometric O3 analyzers [O3mon]) at an outdoor monitoring station.

Contents:

Hazardous

Substance..........1

Radiation............5

Ventilation…......5

PPE………….......6

Noise…………....7

Preventive

Medicine…..……9

Environmental

Health...............12

Ergonomics......14

Safety................14

Emergency

Preparedness

& Response......17

Deployment

Health……..…...18

Nanotech……...18

Regulatory

Research

& IH News ......19

Training…….....22

https://www.medpagetoday.com/publichealthpolicy/environmentalhealth/74917



of 30


As cofactors of sensor performance such as temperature (T) and relative humidity (RH) potentially influence the response of NO2 and O3 sensors, corrections for cofactors were made by using T, RH, and the sensor measurements to predict measurements made by NO2mon and O3mon during the first co-location period (training dataset). The developed models were tested in the merged data obtained from the second and third co-location periods (testing dataset). In the training and testing datasets, the mean NO2 as measured by NO2mon was 4.6 ppb (range = 0.4 – 35 ppb) and 9.4 ppb (range = 1 – 37 ppb), respectively. The mean O3 in the training and testing datasets as measured by O3mon was 38.8 ppb (range = 1 – 65 ppb) and 35.7 ppb (range = 1 – 61 ppb), respectively. None of the sensor measurements in the training dataset were within the NIOSH

accuracy criterion (mean error ≥ 25%). After correcting for cofactors of sensor performance, the accuracy of the Cairclip O3/NO2 and the Aeroqual O3 sensors considerably improved when tested with the testing dataset (mean error = -1% and 14%, respectively). However, the Aeroqual NO2 sensor had an error that was not within ± 25%. Raw measurements from the tested sensors may be unsuitable for assessing workers’ exposure to NO2 and O3. Corrections for cofactors of Cairclip O3/NO2 and Aeroqual O3 sensor performance are required for more accurate occupational exposure assessment.

Read more: Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, Accepted author version posted online: 29 Aug 2018 (Available with AIHA membership)

Why Do You Need 10% Vol Oxygen to Operate a Catalytic Bead LEL Sensor?

The catalytic bead lower explosive limit (CB LEL) sensor is widely used for combustible gas detection based on its low cost, ease of use, and the ability to detect a wide range of gases. However, for some special applications, such as environments with less

than 10% vol oxygen (O2), the CB LEL sensor is not recommended. Here's why: Reason #1: 10% vol O2 allows gas readings up to 100% LEL. To help you better understand this, let me explain the basic principle of how a catalytic bead LEL sensor works. A catalytic bead LEL sensor senses a combustible gas through flameless combustion that occurs with the help of electrically produced heat and a catalyst material coating on the sensing bead. In other words, a CB LEL sensor detects gas through the actual burning of the gas. This is why it can detect a wide

of 30


range of gases and can detect multiple gases at the same time. Like three elements of a fire, CB LEL gas sensing requires fuel (combustible gas in this case), heat (by a metal wire coil buried in the sensor bead), and oxygen.

Read more: https://ohsonline.com/articles/2018/08/01/why-do-you-need-vol-oxygen.aspx?admgarea=ht.IndustrialHygiene

Assessment of Occupational Exposure to Airborne Chlorine Dioxide of

Healthcare Workers Using Impregnated Wipes during High-Level Disinfection of Non-Lumened Flexible Nasoendoscopes

Routine flexible nasoendoscopy in otolaryngology clinics is well established, the rate-limiting step of which being the speed of the nasoendoscopes reprocessing method used. Non-lumened flexible nasoendoscopes are expensive, heat-sensitive, delicate instruments that cannot be sterilized in an autoclave but must be disinfected by means of high level disinfection (HLD). In one of the public hospitals in Singapore, the method of disinfection was recently changed to the use of commercial impregnated wipes which generates less than 1% chlorine dioxide upon activation. An exposure assessment was performed to assess the potential exposure of healthcare workers (HCWs) to airborne chlorine dioxide during nasoendoscope disinfection. A total of fourteen long-term personal samples, four short-term personal samples and sixteen long-term area samples were collected over eight days in midget impingers containing 0.02% potassium iodide in sodium carbonate/sodium bicarbonate buffer during the nasoendoscope disinfection. The samples were then analyzed by ion-chromatograph. The chlorine dioxide

concentrations and upper confidence limit at 95% confidence level (UCL95%) for personal and area samples collected were all below the occupational exposure limits (OEL) for chlorine dioxide (Singapore workplace Safety and Health PELs, ACGIH TLVs, U.S. OSHA PELs). The study presented evidence that the exposure of HCWs to chlorine dioxide during high-level disinfection of flexible nasoendoscopes were deemed insignificant. Read more: Journal of Occupational and

https://ohsonline.com/articles/2018/08/01/why-do-you-need-vol-oxygen.aspx?admgarea=ht.IndustrialHygiene




of 30


Environmental Hygiene, Accepted author version posted online: 14 Sep 2018

(Available with AIHA membership)

Development of a New Method for Biomonitoring of Multiple Metals in Occupational Exposure

The assessment of co-exposure to several types of metal contamination poses a hurdle for occupational monitoring. Determination of elements in biological samples is an important way to evaluate occupational exposure. However, optimized methods for the extraction of multiple metals from biological samples have not been reported in recent studies. Therefore, solid-phase extraction (SPE) based on the functionalized Nano-zeolite Y was

suggested for the biomonitoring of metal co-exposure. SPE was conducted with ammonium pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (APDC) surrounded by Triton X-100 micelles, which were loaded into the pores of Nano-zeolite Y. In this study, SPE was optimized for pre-concentration of trace amounts of chromium (Cr), cadmium (Cd), and lead (Pb) in urine samples with respect to the pH, APDC concentration, elution condition, amount of functionalized Nano-zeolite Y, and sample volume. This method has been successfully optimized for the extraction of the mentioned multiple metals with >97% efficiency and an acceptable reproducibility with a coefficient variation of <10%. This method could be used in the extraction of multiple metals in environmental and occupational exposure conditions. In this study, urine samples of welding workers were evaluated following this optimized method. Read more: Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene Accepted author version posted online: 12 Sep 2018 (Available with AIHA membership)

of 30


Why Are Flight Attendants’ Rates of Cancer Spiking? Disrupted Sleep and Radiation May be to Blame

Being a flight attendant has its bonuses, like getting to travel the world for free, meet new people, and earn well above the average American salary. But it’s not all free snacks and flights to Paris. The job comes with some costs too—like erratic schedules, aggressive passengers, and significant delays. But those, while frustrating, may be the tip of the iceberg. This week, new research is boosting concerns about an even more severe hazard: the increased risk of cancer. The study, published in the journal Environmental Science, is the second wave of a 2007 Harvard Flight Attendant Health Survey aimed at analyzing how “occupational exposures impact the health of flight attendants.”

Read more: https://www.aol.com/article/lifestyle/2018/09/23/why-are-flight-attendants-rates-of-cancer-spiking-disrupted-sleep-and-radiation-may-be-to-blame/23470250/

Settlement Reached in Hanford Site Worker Safety Lawsuit

A settlement agreement has been reached in a 3-year-old lawsuit filed by Washington state to better protect workers from chemical vapors at the Hanford nuclear reservation, state Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced Wednesday. Washington state, watchdog group Hanford Challenge and union Local 598 filed suit

Radiation

Ventilation

of 30


against the Department of Energy and its tank farm contractor, Washington River Protection Solutions owned by AECOM and Atkins, in September 2015. A settlement agreement in the federal court lawsuit was signed Wednesday

Read more: https://www.yakimaherald.com/news/local/settlement-reached-in-hanford-site-worker-safety-lawsuit/article_8c26d5b6-bc3d-11e8-8985-c3b73dce8c40.html

NIOSH Publishes Guide on Air-Purifying Respirator Selection NIOSH has issued a guide intended to help employers select appropriate air-purifying respirators based on the environment and contaminants at specific jobsites. APRs are used to protect workers by removing gases, vapors, aerosols (airborne droplets and solid particles) or a combination of contaminants from the air by using filters, cartridges or canisters. NIOSH notes that the devices cannot be used in areas that are oxygen deficient or where immediate danger to life or health exists. The new guide provides information on filtering facepieces – also known as N95 respirators – elastomeric half facepieces, elastomeric full facepieces and powered air-purifiers. The guide was published on Sept. 5, or N95 Day – an annual NIOSH initiative to raise workplace respirator awareness. Read more: https://www.safetyandhealthmagazine.co

m/articles/17449-niosh-publishes-guide-on-air-purifying-respirator-selection

PPE

https://www.yakimaherald.com/news/local/settlement-reached-in-hanford-site-worker-safety-lawsuit/article_8c26d5b6-bc3d-11e8-8985-c3b73dce8c40.html




https://www.safetyandhealthmagazine.com/articles/17449-niosh-publishes-guide-on-air-purifying-respirator-selection



of 30


Firefighters’ Protective Jackets: Fit to Female Form and Its Effects on Attributes Relevant to Thermal Comfort

Often male and female workers wear protective garments of identical construction and style, with females typically wearing small-sized men’s garments. Consequently, the air spaces under garments worn by male and female wearers can substantially differ in size and

distribution affecting the physiological comfort of firefighters’ protective clothing. The present study was designed to investigate the effects of varying dimensions and distributions of air spaces in the next-to-skin microclimate under firefighter’s protective jackets on attributes relevant to the thermal comfort of wearer, not only in relation to garment construction and fit, but also to human body geometry using 3D body scanning. Analysis of 20 scans demonstrated that jackets of the same size and construction create larger air spaces under them worn on a female as opposed to on a male body form. Both thermal and vapour resistance of clothing were affected significantly by the volume of trapped air. Read more: Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, Accepted author version posted online: 15 Aug 2018 (Available with AIHA membership)

of 30


Study Examines Impacts of Noise and Chemical Exposure on Hearing Health

Scientists are studying the possible long-term effects of exposure to high levels of noise and certain chemicals on the auditory functioning among active-duty Service members and Veterans. Called the Noise Outcomes in Servicemembers Epidemiology, or NOISE study, one objective of the project is to clarify the correlation between hearing injury and exposure to non-pharmaceutical chemical agents used in military operations. These can include solvents like toluene, xylene, styrene, and hydrocarbon blends found in jet fuel, as well as metals and asphyxiants in welding fumes and vehicle exhaust.

Read more: https://health.mil/News/Articles/2018/09/13/Study-examines-impacts-of-noise-and-chemical-exposure-on-hearing-health

Noise Impact on Hearing Loss

Protecting service members from noise-induced hearing loss is an ongoing focus of

the Department of Defense as hearing loss is the number one disability among veterans. Noise exposure in the military can occur 24 hours a day, such as during flight operations, even in off-duty areas. For example, noise measurements in berthing areas of aircraft carriers have been found to exceed current hearing protection standards during flight operations, bringing into question what constitutes acceptable noise levels during off-duty periods following occupational noise exposures. More research is needed to understand

Noise

https://health.mil/News/Articles/2018/09/13/Study-examines-impacts-of-noise-and-chemical-exposure-on-hearing-health



of 30


what level of noise is sufficient during daily “effective quiet” periods that would allow for auditory recovery and prevent permanent hearing loss.

Read more: https://health.mil/News/Articles/2018/09/20/Noise-impact-on-hearing-loss

Xenex Lightstrike Germ-Zapping Robots Help Reduce Infection Rates at Martin Medical Center

Patient safety is a top priority at Martin Medical Center, which recently announced that it has seen a significant reduction in its Clostridium difficile (C.diff) infection rates since adopting Xenex LightStrike™ Germ-Zapping Robots™ as its environmental standard of care. Recognizing that germs and bacteria are becoming increasingly resistant to cleaning chemicals, antibiotics and even some hand sanitizers, the facility invested in two LightStrike robots which quickly destroy the microorganisms that can cause healthcare associated infections (HAIs). Martin Medical Center is the flagship hospital for Martin Health System, which has also adopted the germ-zapping technology at its other two hospitals: Tradition Medical Center and Martin Hospital South. These two facilities have also reported significant reductions in their C.diff infection rates.

Read more: https://www.news-medical.net/news/20181001/Xenex-LightStrike-Germ-Zapping-Robots-help-reduce-infection-rates-at-Martin-Medical-Center.aspx

Preventive Medicine

https://health.mil/News/Articles/2018/09/20/Noise-impact-on-hearing-loss

https://health.mil/News/Articles/2018/09/20/Noise-impact-on-hearing-loss

https://www.news-medical.net/news/20181001/Xenex-LightStrike-Germ-Zapping-Robots-help-reduce-infection-rates-at-Martin-Medical-Center.aspx





of 30


New Department of Justice Video Offers Fentanyl Safety Recommendations for First Responders

The Bureau of Justice Assistance, part of the Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs, has released a video intended to protect first responders who face potential exposure to fentanyl, a synthetic opioid considered up to 50 times more potent than heroin. According to the video, 19,413 synthetic opioid-related overdose deaths occurred in 2016 – a 639 percent increase from 2012. Using testimonials from federal medical personnel, the video offers recommendations to law enforcement as well as fire, rescue and emergency medical personnel.

Read more: https://www.safetyandhealthmagazine.com/articles/17535-new-department-of-justice-video-offers-fentanyl-safety-guidance-for-first-responders

Drop that Donut: Workers Consuming 1,000 Extra Calories at Work,

Researchers Say

Bagels and donuts during the breakfast meeting. Cake for birthday celebrations. Consuming extra food is a common occurrence for many workers. But before you grab that free donut, know this: Workplace snacks may be adding more than 1,000 calories to your daily diet. Using data from the National Household Food Acquisition and Purchase Survey, researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention analyzed the food and drinks that 5,222 employees bought from work vending machines and cafeterias, as well as the free food set out in workplace common areas. They found that 22 percent of employees, at least once a

https://www.safetyandhealthmagazine.com/articles/17535-new-department-of-justice-video-offers-fentanyl-safety-guidance-for-first-responders




of 30


week, bought or ate food that added up to nearly 1,300 calories – most of which tended to be food high in empty calories.

Read more: https://www.safetyandhealthmagazine.com/articles/17469-drop-that-donut-workers-consuming-1000-extra-calories-at-work-researchers-say

Environmental Probiotics: Creating Healthy Indoor Workspaces

Indoor environments have been shown to have a significant impact on human health and productivity. As employers strive to create healthier environments for their workers, the demand for green cleaning services is creating a culture of sustainability in the commercial office cleaning industry, with increased awareness of the benefits driving buying decisions. An accompanying surge in environmentally desirable products and services is impacting the way that facilities managers are thinking about and approaching the cleaning and maintenance of their buildings. Read more: https://ohsonline.com/articles/2018/10/01

/environmental-probiotics.aspx?admgarea=ht.IndoorAirQuality

Coastal Waters May Carry Health Risks

Now is probably a good time to try to stay dry. Health officials and others say there’s stuff in the water — both flooded areas and recreational waters — that is best avoided. New Hanover County Public Health Department and North Carolina Emergency Management officials warn that people should be careful and stay out of flooded areas to avoid risks of injury and illness. The warnings come after an 85-year-old Wilmington man died Tuesday from a

https://www.safetyandhealthmagazine.com/articles/17469-drop-that-donut-workers-consuming-1000-extra-calories-at-work-researchers-say




https://ohsonline.com/articles/2018/10/01/environmental-probiotics.aspx?admgarea=ht.IndoorAirQuality




of 30


bacterial infection apparently contracted by a scratch while cleaning his yard after Hurricane Florence. Ron Phelps died Tuesday at New Hanover Regional Medical Center, the Wilmington StarNews reported. Family members said doctors had amputated a leg in their fight to save him.

Read more: https://www.coastalreview.org/2018/09/public-health-safety-key-issues-post-florence/

Environmental Health Soldiers Conduct Large-Scale Rabies Vaccination of Wildlife around Fort Drum

Environmental Health Soldiers recently spent nearly two weeks spreading rabies vaccination bait drops around Fort Drum to limit the number of rabies-infected animals in and around the installation. Taking place from Aug. 27 to Sept. 7, the rabies bait drop process had the Fort Drum Medical Activity Environmental Health Soldiers walk along wooded areas, spreading the more than 2,000 small caramel flavored vaccinations in order to cover as wide an area as possible. The intent would be for animals to eat the sweet bait which would, in turn, vaccinate them from potential rabies infection.

Read more: https://www.dvidshub.net/news/294319/environmental-health-soldiers-conduct-large-scale-rabies-vaccination-wildlife-around-fort-drum

PFAS Exposure Tied to Weight Gain

Exposure to perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) may be tied with weight gain in some people, according to a new study. PFASs, which are synthetic chemicals found in items like nonstick cookware, beauty products, and fireproof materials, have

Environmental Health

https://www.coastalreview.org/2018/09/public-health-safety-key-issues-post-florence/



https://www.dvidshub.net/news/294319/environmental-health-soldiers-conduct-large-scale-rabies-vaccination-wildlife-around-fort-drum




of 30


known ties to endocrine-disrupting properties, and in a prospective cohort study, overweight and obese individuals with higher PFAS levels experienced significant weight gain over a 9-year period. Specifically, every doubling of total PFAS concentration was tied to a 4 lb (95% CI 0.95-7.0 lb, P=0.01) [1.8 kg, 0.43-3.17 kg]

weight gain over this time period, reported Emily Oken, MD, MPH, of Harvard Medical School in Boston, and colleagues. Read more: https://www.hcpfeed.com/2018/08/31/pfas-exposure-tied-to-weight-gain/

Certain Environmental Pollutants May Contribute to Poor Kidney Health

Certain highly pervasive environmental pollutants may have a variety of negative effects on kidney health, according to an analysis of all relevant studies published on this topic to date. The findings, which appear in an upcoming issue of the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (CJASN), point to the need for additional research to clarify and address these effects. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a large group of manufactured non-biodegradable compounds used in industrial processes and consumer products, and they are everywhere in the environment. Humans are exposed to PFAS through contaminated soil, food, water, soil, and air. Recently, they have been detected on military bases, where they are used in aqueous fire-fighting foams, as well as in public water supplies from industrial

contamination and in agricultural and crop products. Read more: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2018-09-environmental-pollutants-contribute-poor-kidney.htmlt

https://www.hcpfeed.com/2018/08/31/pfas-exposure-tied-to-weight-gain/

https://www.hcpfeed.com/2018/08/31/pfas-exposure-tied-to-weight-gain/

http://www.heraldtribune.com/news/20180809/quieter-hurricane-season-projected-in-latest-forecast



of 30


Safety Voice for Ergonomics as a Preventive Approach for Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders in Masonry Apprentices

Masons have the highest rate of overexertion injuries among all construction

trades and rank second as an occupation for back injuries in the United States. Identified ergonomic solutions are the primary method of reducing exposure to risk factors associated with musculoskeletal disorders. However, many construction workers lack knowledge about these solutions, as well as basic ergonomic principles. Construction apprentices, as they embark on their careers, are greatly in need of ergonomics training to minimize the cumulative exposure that leads to musculoskeletal disorders. Read more: https://www.centerwatch.com/clinical-trials/listings/178646/work-related-musculoskeletal-disorders-safety-voice-ergonomics-as/

Pesticide Safety Training Materials: EPA Announcement of Availability

Will Reduce Worker Injury, Illness Risk, OIG Says By publishing the availability of expanded pesticide safety training materials after previously resisting the move, the Environmental Protection Agency will

reduce risks of injury and illness among employers, farmworkers, pesticide handlers and their families, the EPA Office of

Safety

Ergonomics

https://www.centerwatch.com/clinical-trials/listings/178646/work-related-musculoskeletal-disorders-safety-voice-ergonomics-as/




of 30


Inspector General asserts in an audit report released Aug. 30. Acting in accordance with 2015 revisions to the Agricultural Worker Protection Standard, EPA announced the availability of the materials in a June 22 Federal Register notice. Developed in tandem with the Pesticide Educational Resources Collaborative, the materials are intended to help mitigate pesticide exposure, which has been linked to cancer, Parkinson’s disease and asthma, according to EPA. Read more: https://www.safetyandhealthmagazine.co

m/articles/17446-pesticide-safety-training-materials-epa-announcement-of-availability-will-reduce-worker-injury-illness-risk-oig-says

Hurricane Risks Include Toxic Sludge and Lagoons of Pig Manure

Hurricane Florence’s potential for destruction also includes increased risks for the environment and public health as torrential rains could overwhelm the pits where toxic waste from power plants is stored. Animal-manure lagoons are also at risk of flooding.

Duke Energy Corp. was ordered two years ago to clean up coal-ash ponds in North Carolina that posed risks to the environment and public health. The company won’t be done in time for the storm, leaving the sites vulnerable to spills that can unleash the waste. The state is also a major producer of poultry and hogs, and man-made lagoons that hold manure also could be at risk of overflowing into fields and nearby waterways. Read more: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-09-10/add-potential-coal-ash-spills-to-hurricane-florence-s-threats

https://www.safetyandhealthmagazine.com/articles/17446-pesticide-safety-training-materials-epa-announcement-of-availability-will-reduce-worker-injury-illness-risk-oig-says





https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-09-10/add-potential-coal-ash-spills-to-hurricane-florence-s-threats



http://www.safetyandhealthmagazine.com/articles/16658-msa-issues-stop-use-notice-for-welding-harnesses

of 30


Sexual Assault: Here Are the Bases Where Troops Are Most at Risk

Men and women assigned to Navy ships at sea are far more likely to be sexually assaulted than service members at bases elsewhere across the force, according to a new Defense Department report.

Across the services, the safest places to work were at the Pentagon or other national capital region headquarters buildings, according to the report.

The Pentagon released the data on Friday as part of a much-anticipated report, that for the first time looks at the likelihood of

sexual assault on a military installation or ship and ranks them by service.

Read more: https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2018/09/21/sexual-assault-here-are-the-bases-where-troops-are-most-at-risk/

s

NIOSH Offers Recommendations for Firefighters Facing Basement,

Below-Grade Fires

Entrapment from floor collapse, burns and asphyxiation are among the dangers faced by firefighters who respond to fires in basements and other below-grade

areas, according to a recently published report from NIOSH. In the Workplace Solutions report, the agency points out that the increased risk

from these fires often stems from limited entry and exit points, weakened floor structures, being caught in the fire’s flow path, and ventilation issues, among others. The report calls basement and below-grade firefighting one of the most challenging situations these first responders face. Read more: https://www.safetyandhealthmagazine.com/articles/17470-niosh-offers-recommendations-for-firefighters-facing-basement-below-grade-fires

https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2018/09/21/sexual-assault-here-are-the-bases-where-troops-are-most-at-risk/




https://www.safetyandhealthmagazine.com/articles/17470-niosh-offers-recommendations-for-firefighters-facing-basement-below-grade-fires




of 30


The Online Platform Economy Offers Few Worker Safety Protections

The online platform economy is an exploding phenomenon, which means the number of people performing work through the platform is also growing at an extraordinary rate. It is also clear that workers in the online platform economy are rarely protected by regulation, and therefore, the hazards to which they are exposed are often more severe than those encountered by workers in traditional places of work. What is not clear is who is or should be responsible for protecting the safety of these workers.

Read more: https://ehsdailyadvisor.blr.com/2018/09/the-online-platform-economy-offers-few-worker-safety-protections/

GAO says Defense Department Lagging on Lab Biosecurity

A report yesterday from the US Government Accountability Office (GAO) said the Department of Defense (DoD) has fallen short of meeting goals meant to improve the department's biosafety and biosecurity programs, leaving government labs still at risk.

For 3 years, the DoD has been attempting to implement security reforms after reports revealed that an Army lab at the Dugway Proving Ground in Utah accidentally sent 575 live samples of Bacillus anthracis, the bacterium that causes anthrax, to 194 labs over the course of a decade. Initial investigations by the Pentagon found faulty testing and sampling to blame for the oversight. Read more: http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-

Emergency Preparedness

https://ehsdailyadvisor.blr.com/2018/09/the-online-platform-economy-offers-few-worker-safety-protections/



http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2018/09/gao-says-defense-department-lagging-lab-biosecurity

of 30


perspective/2018/09/gao-says-defense-department-lagging-lab-biosecurity

Army Researchers Find Inspiration in Nature to Improve Body Armor

Future American Soldiers will be better protected in combat by stronger and lighter body armor thanks to innovative work at the U.S. Army Research Laboratory. Materials science engineers are using nature as the inspiration for breakthroughs in additive manufacturing. "My project is to design a system that can 3-D print armor ceramics that will allow production of parts with graded structures similar to an abalone structure in nature that will improve the ceramic armor's toughness and survivability with lower weight," said Joshua Pelz, a materials science and engineering doctoral candidate at the University of California San Diego.

Read more: https://www.army.mil/article/211750/army_researchers_find_inspiration_in_nature_to_improve_body_armor

How is Nanotechnology Regulated?

Functioning at the atomic scale, nanotechnology can provide new or different capabilities that can trigger the creation of new products. The biological, chemical and other effects that make nanotechnology applications so remarkable, however, may also call for testing to

Deployment Health

Nanotechnology



https://www.army.mil/article/211750/army_researchers_find_inspiration_in_nature_to_improve_body_armor



of 30


discover any potential impacts on product safety or efficiency. The use of nanotechnology generally results in product attributes that are different from those of conventionally-manufactured products, and thus assessments of safety or efficiency of regulated products that include nanotechnology should focus on the distinctive qualities and behaviours that nanomaterials exhibit in a particular case.

However, regulatory bodies don’t judge all products involving the application of nanotechnology. Agencies will regulate nanotechnology products under their current purview, in accordance with applicable legal standards. Read more: https://www.azonano.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=4993

California Lawmakers Pass Bill to Try to End Trucker Labor Abuse by Putting Onus on Stores

The California Legislature passed a bill that would hold retail companies jointly responsible for labor violations at their port trucking providers, marking a drastic shift in the relationship between the nation’s most powerful brands and those who deliver their goods in the Los Angeles harbor. Read more: https://www.wltx.com/article/news/nation-now/california-lawmakers-pass-bill-to-try-to-end-trucker-labor-abuse-by-putting-

onus-on-stores/465-0b58413c-7390-4c9f-8cfe-15be8e913928

Regulatory Research & Industrial Hygiene Professional News

Legislation

https://www.azonano.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=4993

https://www.azonano.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=4993

https://www.wltx.com/article/news/nation-now/california-lawmakers-pass-bill-to-try-to-end-trucker-labor-abuse-by-putting-onus-on-stores/465-0b58413c-7390-4c9f-8cfe-15be8e913928





of 30


OIG Finds Flaws in OSHA’s Fatality and Severe Injury Reporting Program

OSHA is not doing enough to ensure it has complete information on work-related deaths and severe injuries, and is not consistent in citing establishments that fail to file required reports, the Department of

Labor Office of Inspector General states in an audit report released Sept. 13. OSHA’s changes to its injury and illness recordkeeping rule went into effect in January 2015, but OIG points to estimates from “OSHA’s former assistant secretary” that “perhaps 50 percent or more of severe injuries have gone unreported.” Read more: https://www.safetyandhealthmagazine.com/articles/17473-oig-finds-flaws-in-oshas-fatality-and-severe-injury-reporting-program

OSHA in Line for Funding Boost after Congressional Conference

Committee Agrees on Appropriations ‘Minibus’ OSHA is set to receive a $5 million budget increase, after the House and Senate resolved their differences in a Sept. 13 congressional conference committee meeting on a “minibus” appropriations bill. The spending package includes funding for the Department of Defense and a continuing resolution to keep the government open until Dec. 7. The minibus, which includes the Department of Defense and Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Act of 2019 and the

Continuing Appropriations Act of 2019, was passed by the Senate on Sept. 18 and by the House on Sept. 26. It still needs President Donald Trump’s signature. Read more: https://www.safetyandhealthmagazine.com/articles/17465-osha-in-line-for-funding-boost-after-house-and-senate-conference-committee-agrees-on-appropriations-minibus

OSHA

https://www.safetyandhealthmagazine.com/articles/17473-oig-finds-flaws-in-oshas-fatality-and-severe-injury-reporting-program




https://www.safetyandhealthmagazine.com/articles/17465-osha-in-line-for-funding-boost-after-house-and-senate-conference-committee-agrees-on-appropriations-minibus





of 30


EPA Seeks to Relax Rules on Methane Emissions, Admits Harmful

Health Impacts The Trump administration is seeking to ease Obama-era restrictions on methane gas emissions, touting the benefits for energy companies while admitting the changes could harm air quality and human health. Under a new proposal that the Environmental Protection Agency released on Tuesday, oil and gas companies would be permitted to conduct less frequent inspections for methane leaks at their facilities and would be given more time to make repairs. Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/epa-seeks-relax-rules-methane-emissions-admits-harmful-health-impacts-n908616

EPA Announces its Working Approach for Identifying Chemicals for

Prioritization

On September 28, 2018, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced it was releasing the approach it

will use to identify chemicals that could be included in the next group of risk evaluations under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) titled “A Working Approach for Identifying Potential Candidate Chemicals for Prioritization” (Working Approach). EPA states that the information set forth in this document is “intended to describe the general approaches EPA may consider to identify

EPA

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/epa-seeks-relax-rules-methane-emissions-admits-harmful-health-impacts-n908616




of 30


existing chemicals as potential candidates for prioritization,” and the ultimate goal of these approaches “is to identify potential candidates from which EPA will select candidates for prioritization, consistent with its regulations at 40 C.F.R. § 702.5.”

Read more: https://www.natlawreview.com/article/epa-announces-its-working-approach-identifying-chemicals-prioritization

Training

APHC

https://www.natlawreview.com/article/epa-announces-its-working-approach-identifying-chemicals-prioritization



of 30


of 30


This monthly summary is published by the Industrial

Hygiene Program Management Division for the Army Public Health Center.

POINTS OF CONTACT:

By Email:

[email protected]

By Phone or FAX: Office: (410)436-3161 FAX: (410)436-8795

On the Web:

http://phc.amedd.army.mil/topics/workplacehealth/ih/Pages/

default.aspx

Articles appearing in this summary are a collection of articles taken verbatim from public sources and do not necessarily represent the opinions/views, policy, or guidance of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, or the U. S. Government. The appearance of external hyperlinks does not constitute endorsement by the U.S. Army for the information, products or services contained therein. The U.S. Army does not exercise any editorial control over the information you may find at these locations. The use of trademarked names does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Army but is intended only to assist in identification of a specific product.

mailto:[email protected]

http://phc.amedd.army.mil/topics/workplacehealth/ih/Pages/default.aspx



army industrial hygiene news library/september 2018 ihne… · army industrial hygiene news and...

Documents