Workplace exposures

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Cold weather raises the risk of some not-so-obvious hazards. Here are a few to keep in mind.

Sacramento, CA — California’s Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board has unanimously approved to make permanent an emergency temporary standard aimed at safeguarding workers who handle engineered stone from silica hazards.

Washington — Construction workers exposed to noise on the job face a higher risk of hearing loss than noise-exposed workers in all other industries do, results of a recent NIOSH study show.

Washington — The Environmental Protection Agency is set to publish a final rule intended to improve the efficiency” of the agency’s chemical review process and provide better information.

Washington — The Environmental Protection Agency will begin the risk management process to “address the unreasonable risk presented by legacy uses and associated disposal of asbestos,” which includes publishing a proposed rule to “protect people from the identified risks.”

Worcester, MA — Workers in marijuana processing facilities must be informed about the hazards of exposure to ground cannabis dust, the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission reminds employers in a recently published safety bulletin.

Washington — The Chemical Safety Board is emphasizing the importance of thorough risk assessments and emergency preparedness as it continues to investigate a fatal release of hydrogen sulfide.

Washington — OSHA has extended until Jan. 14 the comment period on a proposed rule aimed at protecting indoor and outdoor workers from heat-related illnesses.

Los Angeles — A recent study out of the University of California, Los Angeles could accelerate the identification of the riskiest cancer-causing chemicals for firefighters and other people exposed to fires.

Saint Paul, MN — Minnesota OSHA will establish a working group to assist the state’s Department of Labor and Industry in revising regulations on lead exposure for both general industry and construction.