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CSB issues guidance on safety during science demonstrations

Washington – Three recent incidents that left both children and adults with burn injuries have prompted the Chemical Safety Board to issue a safety bulletin on educational science demonstrations that use flammable chemicals.




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Improving academic lab safety

In the wake of severe injuries – including a death – involving laboratory researchers at U.S. universities, the Chemical Safety Board and the American Chemical Society are exploring the issues of education and training, near-miss reporting, and safety culture in university labs.




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CDC: Lab workers must guard against unknown pathogens

Atlanta – Multiple cases of melioidosis – a bacterial infection that has potentially fatal consequences – reinforce the need for researchers in laboratories to follow proper safety procedures when working with unknown pathogens, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.




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Teachers face threats, physical violence: report

Washington – Threats of physical violence from students can result in teachers becoming discontented with the profession – and sometimes quitting it altogether, according to a newly released report from the Bureau of Justice Statistics and the National Center for Education Statistics.




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Burnout may be contagious among newer teachers: study

East Lansing, MI – Less-experienced teachers are more likely to experience burnout if co-workers feel the same way, suggests a recent study from researchers at Michigan State University and the University of Virginia.




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School science presentations and fire safety: CSB releases video

Washington – A new video from the Chemical Safety Board reminds teachers, staff and school administrators of the hazards of using flammable materials such as methanol during classroom science demonstrations.




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Violence against teachers: 1 in 5 educators say they don’t report incidents

Columbus, OH — One out of five teachers who experiences physical or verbal violence on the job does not report it to school administrators, according to a study led by researchers at Ohio State University.




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‘Don’t Mess with Mercury’: Videos for teachers highlight spill awareness, response

Atlanta — As a new school year gets underway, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry has released two teacher training videos as part of a campaign intended to call attention to the dangers of mercury exposure.




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NIOSH releases resources on dampness and mold assessment

Washington — NIOSH recently introduced checklists to help employers assess damp areas and identify mold.




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‘A Crisis of Disrupted Learning’: Oregon teachers’ union report details hazards in the classroom

Portland, OR — Episodes of agitated student behavior – including verbal abuse of fellow students and teachers, as well as physical acts such as hitting, weaponizing school supplies, and destroying school or student property – may foster a “disrupted learning environment” that puts teachers’ safety and health at risk, according to a recent report from the Oregon Education Association.




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Federal agencies launch website on school safety and security

Washington — The Department of Education – together with the departments of Health and Human Services, Justice, and Homeland Security – has launched a new website it calls a “one-stop shop of resources” for K-12 teachers, administrators, parents and law enforcement to identify, prepare for, respond to and mitigate school safety threats.




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COVID-19 pandemic: CDC issues interim cleaning, disinfection recommendations after exposure

Washington — In light of emerging data on the COVID-19 pandemic, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has released interim environmental cleaning and disinfection recommendations for community facilities with suspected or confirmed cases of the potentially deadly respiratory illness.




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Campus fire drills ‘may never have been more important,’ fire marshal says

Newburyport, MA — Fire drill schedules on college and university campuses should be maintained, and fire drill plans and responses updated or modified, during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to University of Delaware Fire Marshal Kevin T. McSweeney.




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Survey puts spotlight on ‘crisis of violence’ against teachers, school staff

Washington — A third of teachers and nearly 2 out of 5 school administrators have experienced verbal harassment or threats of violence from students during the COVID-19 pandemic, results of a recent American Psychological Association survey show.




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Chemical Safety Board reminds schools of hazards in chemistry labs

Washington — In response to a recent fire in a high school chemistry laboratory that resulted in multiple injuries, the Chemical Safety Board is calling on schools and educators to review agency guidance for lab and classroom work involving flammable liquids.




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Working during vacation time keeps you exhausted, study of teachers shows

London — Although spending time on work-related activities while on vacation can help reduce your anxiety levels when returning to the job, it also impairs recovery from work exhaustion, results of a recent study out of England suggest.




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Shifting away from a focus on grades and test scores may make teachers safer

Columbus, OH — Schools that foster a culture of deep engagement in learning – rather than prioritize grades and test scores – may be keeping teachers safe from violence, researchers claim.




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Review underway on OSHA beryllium rule

Washington – A proposed OSHA rule that would update the permissible exposure limit for beryllium is under review by the Office of Management and Budget.




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Proposed beryllium rule should exclude construction, manufacturer says

Washington – The construction industry should be exempt from OSHA’s forthcoming proposed rule on beryllium, according to a manufacturer of industrial abrasives.




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Latest OSHA agenda hints at update to hazcom standard

Washington – OSHA is considering another update to its Hazard Communication Standard, according to the Department of Labor’s latest semiannual regulatory agenda, released Nov. 21.




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Advocacy group urges OMB to complete review of beryllium rule

Washington – Watchdog group Public Citizen is urging the Office of Management and Budget to complete a review of OSHA’s proposed standard on beryllium and open the rule for public comment.




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Despite delays, OSHA says to expect several rules soon

Washington – Several final and proposed OSHA rules – including a long-delayed update to the beryllium rule – are expected to be published in the next few months, according to the agency’s spring regulatory agenda, released May 21.




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Proposed rule on beryllium would dramatically lower worker exposure limits

Washington – OSHA is proposing to dramatically lower its 34-year-old permissible exposure limit for beryllium to one-tenth of its current level, the agency announced Aug. 6.




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OSHA under Obama: The final year

This time next year, the nation will be electing a new president, who could move OSHA in a different direction. What can the agency accomplish in the remaining months of the Obama administration? OSHA-watchers weigh in.




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OSHA schedules stakeholder meeting on beryllium rule

Washington – OSHA has scheduled an informal public hearing in Washington to gather more input on the agency’s proposed rule on beryllium.




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OSHA reschedules beryllium hearing

Washington – OSHA has rescheduled an informal public hearing intended to gather more input on the agency’s proposed rule on beryllium.




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Advocates call for OSHA to strengthen proposed rule on beryllium

Washington – OSHA’s proposed rule on beryllium is “a step in the right direction” but could be stronger, according to a pair of worker safety and health advocates who testified at an informal hearing on the proposal.




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Maritime advisory committee to receive update on beryllium rule

Washington – OSHA’s Maritime Advisory Committee for Occupational Safety and Health is scheduled to receive an update on the agency’s proposed beryllium rule during a May 3 meeting.




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‘Big impact’: OSHA aims to issue final rule on walking/working surfaces in August

Washington – OSHA’s final rule on preventing slips, trips and falls is scheduled for publication in August, according to the spring regulatory agenda released May 18.




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OSHA panel talks agency’s ‘current activities’

Anaheim, CA – The status of OSHA’s Severe Violator Enforcement Program was in the spotlight during the “OSHA Current Activities” Technical Session on Monday at the 2016 NSC Congress & Expo.




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Beryllium standard moves to final rule stage on fall regulatory agenda

OSHA’s final rule on occupational exposure to beryllium is scheduled for publication in January, according to the Department of Labor’s fall regulatory agenda, released Nov. 17.




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OSHA releases final rule updating decades-old beryllium exposure limits

Washington – OSHA has issued a final rule lowering occupational exposure limits for beryllium. The standards apply to general industry, construction and shipyards.




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OSHA releases final rule updating beryllium exposure limits

OSHA has issued a long-awaited final rule lowering occupational exposure limits for beryllium, a lightweight metal used in various industries. Supporters of the rule say it's the result of an innovative collaboration between industry and labor.




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OSHA delays effective date for beryllium rule

Washington – OSHA has delayed until March 21 the effective date of its final rule intended to protect workers from exposure to beryllium.




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DOL delays effective date of beryllium rule

Washington – The Department of Labor is proposing to delay until May 20 the effective date of a final rule intended to protect workers from beryllium.




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Final rule on beryllium: OSHA pushes effective date to May 20

Washington – A final rule intended to protect workers from exposure to beryllium has been delayed a second time.




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Beryllium rule: OSHA seeks to eliminate provisions aimed at construction, shipyard workers

Washington – OSHA has issued a proposed rule that would roll back certain provisions of its final rule on worker exposure to beryllium in the construction and shipyard industries.




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OSHA delays enforcement of beryllium standards

Washington — OSHA is delaying enforcement on all of its beryllium standards until May 11, the agency has announced.




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OSHA to extend compliance date, change ancillary provisions in beryllium standard for general industry

Washington — OSHA will extend the compliance date for its beryllium standard for general industry and change certain ancillary provisions in the final rule, according to a settlement agreement between the agency and four petitioners.




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OSHA to extend compliance date for parts of general industry beryllium standard

Washington — OSHA has published a proposed rule intended to give the agency enough time to make alterations to its beryllium standard for general industry.




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Effective July 6: Changes to OSHA’s beryllium standard for general industry

Washington — OSHA’s “clarifying amendments” to its beryllium standard for general industry will go into effect July 6, the agency has announced.




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OSHA delays compliance date for parts of general industry beryllium standard

Washington — OSHA is extending to Dec. 12 the compliance date for certain ancillary provisions in its beryllium standard for general industry, the agency has announced.




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OSHA proposes changes to beryllium standard for general industry

Washington — OSHA has issued a proposed rule to amend certain parts of its beryllium standard for general industry in an effort “designed to clarify the standard, and to simplify or improve compliance.”




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Beryllium in construction: OSHA advisory committee to host teleconference on potential rule changes

Washington — OSHA’s Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and Health has scheduled a teleconference/WebEx meeting for Sept. 9 to discuss potential changes to beryllium regulations, according to a notice published in the Aug. 8 Federal Register.




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OSHA decides not to revoke all ancillary provisions in beryllium standards

Washington — OSHA will not eliminate all the ancillary provisions in its beryllium standards for shipyards and construction, but will propose other changes in the future, according to a final rule published in the Sept. 30 Federal Register.




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OSHA issues proposed rule on changes to beryllium standards for construction, shipyards

Washington — As expected, OSHA is proposing changes to its beryllium standards for the construction and shipyard industries.




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OSHA revises beryllium standard for general industry

Washington — OSHA has finalized revisions to its beryllium standard for general industry. Announced July 13, the final rule includes changes to five definitions and the addition of one definition – beryllium sensitization.




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Workplace exposure to silica, beryllium may have links to sarcoidosis: study

Nieuwegein, The Netherlands — On-the-job exposure to silica, beryllium and certain other metals may be linked to the inflammatory disease sarcoidosis, results of a recent study led by Dutch researchers suggest.




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OSHA revises beryllium standards for construction, shipyards

Washington — OSHA has finalized revisions to its beryllium standards for the construction and shipyard industries. Announced Aug. 28, the final rule includes changes designed to “clarify the standards and simplify or improve compliance.”




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OSHA releases new guidance, resources on beryllium

Washington — OSHA has published new guidance and resources intended to help employers and workers navigate the agency’s beryllium standards.