International Brotherhood of Teamsters Consortium Success Story

This success story describes how the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) Consortium is meeting workforce needs in various industries and ensuring training accessibility for underserved populations. Additionally, the story describes IBT’s efforts to respond to climate change, COVID-19, chemical incidents, and other public health issues today and in the future.

What’s New

Why Ongoing Worker Safety Training is Critical to Effective Disaster Response

Mitchel Rosen, Ph.D., principal investigator of the Atlantic Center for Occupational Health and Safety Training, discusses more about a recent article published in New Solutions. The article provides insight into addressing recurring issues that NIEHS Worker Training Program grant recipients experience when providing training for disaster recovery workers.

Rutgers Today

OSHA Wants to Revise PPE Fit Requirements for Construction Workers

The “failure” of standard-sized personal protective equipment (PPE) to fit smaller construction workers – especially women – has prompted the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to try to align the industry’s PPE fit requirements with other standards. Current construction standards don’t require PPE to fit the wearer.

Safety and Health Magazine

OSHA News Release

Delivery Drivers Want Protection Against Heat. But It's an Uphill Battle

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration lists mail and package delivery as one of the primary industries where outdoor workers suffer from heat-related illnesses. The agency's work-related injury database shows at least 40 UPS drivers have been hospitalized due to heat-related illness since 2015.

NPR [Author: Danielle Kaye]

GAO Urges Better Relations Between DOE, New Mexico For Los Alamos Cleanup

The Department of Energy (DOE) and New Mexico should work with a third-party mediator “to build trust” on legacy cleanup at the Los Alamos National Laboratory, a Congressional watchdog reported. Third party facilitation is one of a half-dozen recommendations issued by Government Accountability Office (GAO) that also include prioritizing remediation goals and controlling costs.

Exchange Monitor (subscription required)

GAO Report

Rural Disaster Preparedness: Partnering for Resilience and Resources

Speakers will share stories of disaster planning and response and how the long road to recovery is possible through partnership and innovation. This discussion will highlight useful tools and resources to help your community build cross-sector resilience and ensure your community is better equipped in the face of a changing climate. The event will be held on August 1, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. EDT.

Event Registration

Preventing and Reporting Chemical Releases During Extreme Weather Events

The most important part of preventing releases of hazardous chemicals during a natural disaster is to be prepared and have a plan in place. The amount of time available to respond to extreme weather incidents may vary. Hurricanes are typically predictable and allow for adequate preparation, but flooding caused by severe rainfall may occur with much less warning. So having a plan of action for such events can save valuable time.

EHS Daily Advisor [Author: Lisa Whitley]

DC AG Sues Companies for Allegedly Hiding Health Risks of PFAS Chemicals for Decades

A lawsuit has been filed against 25 chemical companies for allegedly hiding the negative health effects of PFAS chemicals that are found in many products, according to D.C. Attorney General (AG) Brian L. Schwalb. The lawsuit claims that these chemicals have polluted natural resources in D.C. and that despite knowing about the serious health effects, including increased risk of cancer and birth defects, the companies "falsely maintained that their products were safe."

ABC 7 News [Author: Ida Domingo]

The World is Reeling from Record Heat and Flooding. Scientists Say It’s the Cost of Climate Inaction

The unprecedented sea surface temperatures and record-low levels of Antarctic sea ice now being documented are even surprising some climate scientists who expected an especially hot summer because of the strong El Niño forecast, but didn’t anticipate the extreme weather to be quite this extreme. Just last week, some shallow waters along the beaches of the Florida Keys reached nearly 96 degrees.

Inside Climate News [Author Kristoffer Tigue]

CSB Urges FEMA to Include the Location of Chemical Facilities and Their Proximity to Communities in FEMA National Response Index

The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) submitted a letter to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) urging FEMA to include the location of chemical facilities and their proximity to communities in FEMA’s National Response Index – a tool developed by FEMA that identifies communities that are most at risk from natural hazards like hurricanes and other severe weather events.

CSB News Release

Biden-Harris Administration Proposes Workplace Safety Requirements for Carbon Tetrachloride to Protect Worker Health, Fenceline Communities

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a proposal that will better protect workers from exposure to carbon tetrachloride, a chemical known to cause serious health risks such as liver toxicity and cancer. This proposal, if finalized, would protect people from these risks by minimizing exposure to workers and communities, while banning uses that have already ceased.

EPA News Release

Department of Labor Announces Rule Expanding Submission Requirements for Injury, Illness Data Provided by Employers in High-Hazard Industries

The U.S. Department of Labor announced a final rule that will require certain employers in designated high-hazard industries to electronically submit injury and illness information – that they are already required to keep – to the department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). OSHA believes that providing public access to the data will ultimately reduce occupational injuries and illnesses.

OSHA News Release

Heat Resource for Outdoor Workers

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers information on how to prevent heat illness for outdoor workers. The webpage also offers links to other resources on how to stay cool and when to seek medical attention for heat stress and illness.

CDC

30 Great Tools to Determine Your Flood Risk in The U.S.

In an era of increasing heavy downpours, rising sea levels, and deterioration of flood protection infrastructure, it’s critical to know your property’s flood risk. In the U.S., every state has had multiple flood disasters in recent years. This is a comprehensive look at the tools that can help you understand how flooding could affect you.

Yale Climate Connections

The University of California, Davis Seeks an Industrial Hygiene Specialist

The candidate will assist in the development and implementation of the campus industrial hygiene program and various campus health and safety programs. The position also requires participation in daily and afterhours “on-call” team to provide technical information and response to the campus community.

Job Posting

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