Silicosis is an incurable lung disease caused by breathing in particles of silica dust. Silica is also linked to other diseases like lung cancer and chronic renal disease. The types of employment where silica dust exposure is most prevalent include mining, construction and manufacturing. According to health professionals, thousands of patients are diagnosed with silicosis each year and hundreds die from the disease.
Almost a year ago the Occupational Safety and Health Administration proposed new regulations intended to combat this work place hazard. However, worker safety advocates maintain that industry stakeholders are interfering with the passage of the regulations. The existing rules limiting worker exposure to silica were adopted in the 1960s and occupational health experts insist that the safe limit is half of what is permitted by the current standard. Members of a coalition representing several industries claim that the current levels are adequate to protect workers and the changes proposed by the new regulations would cost billions of dollars. Jackson Morrill, the head of the coalition, asserts that the real problem is a failure on the part of employers to comply with the current rules.
Union groups and safety advocates are frustrated with the delay in passing the proposed regulations and are pushing for the Department of Labor to initiate a public debate and put an end to behind the scenes negotiations. According to a statement issued by The National Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety and Health “the current standard is many decades old and is insufficient to protect workers from this serious occupational health hazard… The silica rule delay is extraordinary and without explanation…”
Click here to read a letter written to President Obama, signed by 300 public health scientists, doctors, and occupational safety experts, asking him to direct the White House Office of Management and Budget to complete its review of the proposed regulations.
Sources: New Silica Rules Languish In Regulatory Black Hole, by Nell Greenfield Boyce, NPR Morning Edition, February 2, 2012.
SafetyNewsAlert.com, January 26, 2012.
On November 18, 2011, the FDA revoked its approval of Avastin (bevacizumab) for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer. According to FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg, MD, evidence shows that the risks associated with this medication outweigh the possible benefits. Although early studies were encouraging, follow-up studies fail to support these findings and clearly demonstrate the potentially life-threatening side effects of Avastin. These side effects include severe hypertension, hemorrhage, and perforations of the stomach, nose and intestines.
According to a recent study, strict driver education requirements have resulted in fewer fatal accidents involving teens. However, these encouraging statistics apply to 16 year old drivers; fatal accidents involving 18 year olds have actually increased. The study reveals that many teens are opting to postpone getting their license until they reach 18 in order to by pass the tough licensing laws and driver restrictions placed on younger teens. In addition to requiring driver education courses, state driving laws usually require longer permit periods, restrict night time driving and regulate passengers for younger teens. 18 year olds are not subject to these laws and in many states they receive a driver’s license in a matter of weeks. The study suggests that lack of education and experience is partially responsible for the increase in fatal accidents among this age group.
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