The process of digging the trench, which was not shored, exposed a 3-inch water line that was about 3 feet below grade and ran the length of the trench. No attempt was made to shut off the water line before work began or after it was uncovered.

A semitruck driver arrived at a construction site to deliver roofing materials on a flatbed trailer. Because the load left no room for the driver to bring a forklift, he asked workers at the site to use their company’s telehandler forklift to unload the trailer.

A 51-year-old tree trimmer and certified arborist was part of a three-person crew sent to cut down a storm-damaged maple in the backyard of a private residence. The trimmer oversaw the crew and jobsite.

A 29-year-old steelworker was using a telehandler to move and stage insulated metal panels at a municipal garage building site. He had received training on the equipment and had an operator’s permit.

A 49-year-old construction laborer was working as an independent contractor for a residential remodeling company.

A 61-year-old loader operator was killed while attempting to repair a hydraulic line on a front-end loader used to move logs. The company had a written lockout/tagout program, but the program did not contain specific procedures for the front-end loader maintenance.

A 61-year-old truck driver who worked for a general freight carrier parked his truck at his employer’s terminal yard and slept overnight in the truck’s sleeper berth.

A 62-year-old man was employed by a company that specializes in the manufacture of additives to enhance the performance and durability of concrete. On the day of the incident, the laborer was tasked with the production of a viscosity modifier additive.

Washington — The Environmental Protection Agency wants to ban most industrial and commercial uses of methylene chloride.

Washington — The Environmental Protection Agency is seeking to “improve the efficiency” of its chemical review process.

Washington — The Environmental Protection Agency wants to ban most commercial use – and all consumer use – of the chemical substance perchloroethylene.

Washington — The Environmental Protection Agency has extended until Aug. 8 the comment period for a proposed rule intended to “improve the efficiency” of the agency’s chemical review process.

Washington — The Environmental Protection Agency wants to protect workers against exposure to the chemical substance carbon tetrachloride – and ban uses that already have been phased out.

Washington — Hurricanes and high winds could “significantly impact” the U.S. bulk-power system and lead to the release of hazardous chemicals if facilities lose power, the Chemical Safety Board says.

Washington — An Environmental Protection Agency final rule will require manufacturers and importers of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances to report information on PFAS use, exposures and hazards.

Washington — An update to OSHA’s standard on hazard communication is undergoing a final review, according to the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs website.

Washington — The Environmental Protection Agency intends to issue a proposed rule that would ban the use of the toxic chemical trichloroethylene.

Missoula, MT – Salon workers are frequently exposed to products that contain harmful chemicals linked to conditions such as cancer, reproductive issues and asthma, concludes a new report from environmental health advocacy group Women’s Voices for the Earth.

Washington – NIOSH is looking for companies that use spray polyurethane foam to participate in a study about the health effects of occupational exposure to flame retardants.

Corvallis, OR – Sufficient lighting, portable signs and visible police presence are among several contributing factors that help improve worker safety on highway paving projects, according to a study from Oregon State University.

Washington – A new NIOSH document outlines best practices for minimizing the risk of crystalline silica exposure during asphalt pavement milling.

Between 1992 and 2005 at least 154 workers were killed by electrocution when a metal ladder came into contact with overhead power wires, according to the most recent data available from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Exposure to electricity resulted in 156 deaths and 1,730 cases involving days away from work in the United States in 2012, according to the 2015 edition of the National Safety Council’s “Injury Facts.”

Heads up, workers: Power lines can be serious and potentially fatal hazards when proper safety precautions are not followed.

Portable generators can be found in many workplaces. Among the risks users face, according to OSHA, are shocks and electrocution from improper use of power or unintentionally energizing other electrical systems, and fires from improperly refueling the generator or not storing fuel correctly.

In Episode 45, the S+H team examines the November issue’s feature story on common electrical safety errors. Also, T.J. Lentz, a lead health scientist at NIOSH, joins the podcast to discuss workplace chemical safety in the “Five Questions With …” segment.

Oakland, CA – The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health’s heat illness prevention Special Emphasis Program led to 3,575 inspections in 2014 – about one-third of which resulted in heat-related citations – the agency has announced.

If you’ve ever come in contact with poison ivy, you know how unpleasant it can be. And for many outdoor workers, poisonous plants are a common hazard.

Washington — As warmer summer temperatures approach, OSHA has unveiled a new poster intended to help workers reduce their risk of heat-related illness.

Washington – OSHA has issued a proposed rule that would update personal protective equipment requirements to incorporate the latest American National Standards Institute’s eye and face protection standard.

Gaithersburg, MD — Many laser protective eyewear products may not be adequately tested – by both manufacturers and end users – for lasers that emit high-power, ultrafast pulses, potentially putting workers at risk, according to a study from the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

Although disposable respirators cannot completely protect a worker from inhaling airborne particles, they can reduce the number of particles inhaled.

When a natural disaster, biological incident or other event occurs, first responders and recovery workers often rush to the scene. That means it’s crucial they have the proper personal protective equipment ready and know how to use it.

Tokyo — Long-term exposure to powdered toner or toner-using machines has no significant impact on lung health, concludes a recent study of copier industry workers by researchers at Japan’s Showa University.

Morgantown, WV — Nanoparticles from printer toner emissions can cause “very significant” changes to workers’ genetic and metabolic profiles, results of a recent study led by a researcher from West Virginia University show.

Washington — OSHA is seeking comment on a proposed rule aimed at protecting indoor and outdoor workers from heat-related illnesses.

Washington — A new video from OSHA describes how to use the agency’s new Severe Injury Report data dashboard.

Los Angeles — OSHA administrator Doug Parker is urging workers to provide feedback on the agency’s proposed rule aimed at protecting them from heat-related illnesses both indoors and outdoors.

Washington — NIOSH has published a draft of a hazard review document on wildfire smoke exposure among outdoor workers – and is asking for comment.

Washington — New videos from OSHA feature safe practices for workers tasked with cleaning up after a flood or using a portable generator.

Who is responsible for lockout/tagout within a facility?

Columbus, OH — Three out of 10 law enforcement officers have experienced a work-related head injury, putting them at risk of post-traumatic stress disorder and depression, according to a recent study.

Birmingham, England — Workers who feel stuck in a job they want to leave are more likely to respond to perceived safety-related wrongdoing with retaliatory behavior – even when employers show support.

Arlington, VA — Choosing head protection can be “confusing and complicated” because of the numerous options available, especially when trying to discern the key differences among them, researchers say.