Health & Safety Headlines

OSHA Throws Out Challenges to Silica Rule

After OSHA’s silica rule was finalized, industry groups brought several court challenges, among them a claim that compliance with the rule was infeasible. Now those challenges have been thrown out, allowing the rule to stand as is. Although already in full effect in the construction industry, many provisions of the silica rule for general industry don’t go into effect until June 2018.

Millions of Fire Extinguishers Recalled in the U.S. and Canada

Officials in the U.S. and Canada are recalling over 40 million potentially faulty fire extinguishers sold between 1973 and 2017. Manufactured by Kidde, the affected devices all have either plastic handles or a push-button design, and can clog, fail or eject their nozzle during use. Consumers can visit the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s website for more information or visit www.kidde.com and click on “Product Safety Recall” to get a free replacement.

Cholesterol Levels Decline Among U.S. Adults

The percentage of adults age 20 and over with high cholesterol dropped from 18 percent in 2000 to 12 percent in 2016. Cholesterol is a key risk factor for heart disease. Experts aren’t sure yet of the reason for the decline, however; some point to reduced amounts of trans fats in our food. Others say the real reason is that more older adults are now being prescribed statins to help control their cholesterol levels.

OSHA Resumes Regular Enforcement After Hurricanes

The agency has resumed regular enforcement in many southern states affected by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma. OSHA often suspends regular enforcement after natural disasters, opting instead for compliance assistance and outreach to employers and workers involved in cleanup and recovery. However, OSHA does retain the right to inspect workplaces after fatalities, catastrophic accidents, employee complaints or in instances where employers repeatedly expose employees to serious hazards during cleanup and recovery activities.