Workplace exposures

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Washington – Coal miners seeking benefits under the Black Lung Benefits Act wait hundreds of days for their cases to be heard, despite government efforts to speed up the process, Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA) claimed during a July 22 hearing of the Senate Employment and Workplace Safety Subcommittee.

Washington – The Environmental Protection Agency has reissued a warning to home improvement contractors and air-conditioning technicians about using flammable refrigerants.

Washington – The Environmental Protection Agency has identified health risks from exposure to the chemical compound trichloroethylene and is calling on Congress to pass stronger federal toxics laws.

Pomona, CA – Workers and employers have different perceptions of noise levels in their workplaces, according to the results of a new survey.

Philadelphia – Women who work with organic solvents before their first full-term birth may be at an increased risk for breast cancer, concludes a study from the epidemiology branch of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.

Lund, Sweden – The levels of certain carcinogens in hairdressers’ blood may be linked to how often they use permanent dyes and perming treatments on clients’ hair, according to a study from Lund University.

Atlanta – To help protect health care providers and facilities from the dangers of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has developed checklists for infection control actions.

New York – Many children working on U.S. tobacco farms have inadequate protective gear and suffer from symptoms associated with acute nicotine poisoning, according to a report released May 14 by Human Rights Watch.

Boston – Workers who are exposed to paint, glue or degreaser fumes may experience cognitive issues such as memory loss during retirement, according to a recent study from the Harvard Center for Population and Development Studies.