Chemicals
Say no to pesticide spraying effortlessly
EPA research shows that U.S. pesticide usage totaled over 1.1 billion pounds yearly in both 2011 and 2012. An obvious sector that uses these pesticides is agricultural farm lands and product residues. Most of the produce grown in farms today are sprayed with synthetic pesticides to deter insects and rodents, and prevent weeds from destroying […]
Just how safe are high-security labs?
A recent lab mishap has raised questions about the overall culture of lab safety in so-called high security labs. Five rhesus macaque monkeys at the Tulane National Primate Research Center near New Orleans have displayed possible infection from Burkholderia pseudomallei bacteria after it was somehow released from the research facility. A worker at the research center is […]
New lab process improves GMO biocontainment
Genetically modified organisms, GMOs, are a boon to society. They help create insulin, produce biofuels, and even clean up contaminated soil or water. Genetically engineered mosquitoes fight dengue virus, and immune system cells attack tumors. Yet, there are concerns that GMOs and products containing GMOs are harmful to humans and the environment. Particularly, the lab […]
Reports suggest negligence behind deadly DuPont accident
New information on a deadly pesticide plant accident seems to support the need to reassess how safety regulations at chemical facilities are managed. Last November, four workers at DuPont’s La Porte, Texas, facility were killed by exposure to methyl mercaptan — a toxic gas. Although an investigation by the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) is ongoing, […]
EPA rule targets “sham recycling” of industrial hazardous waste
For those of us without an intimate understanding of environmental regulations, the Environmental Protection Agency’s “Definition of Solid Waste” seems an unlikely source for requirements regarding the recycling of hazardous waste. But the EPA’s final rule, published last week, will significantly affect how hazardous secondary materials — by-products like sludge that are generated during industrial […]
West Virginia chemical spill highlights problems in regulation
One month after 10,000 gallons of a toxic industrial chemical leaked into the Elk River in West Virginia, national, state and local health officials continue to disagree over the safety of the water supply, and legislators and health officials are rushing to identify the regulatory gaps that allowed the accident to happen. Just two miles upstream […]
Are lab accidents at schools preventable?
A chemical accident at Beacon High School, New York in which two students were injured during a lab demonstration, has stirred up a debate on whether lab accidents at schools are preventable. Tenth grader Alonzo Yanes, one of the injured students, suffered second-degree burns on his face, neck, and arm while the other student suffered first […]
Why should homebrewers worry about chemical safety?
Safety compliance in breweries has been questioned over the years, and is especially suspect as the craft brewing industry continues to forge ahead in membership and production. However, data shows that smaller enterprises, on average, don’t always have the same prudency as macrobreweries do when it comes to prioritizing a brewery safety culture.
Lead poisoning in children? Blame old bathtubs
October 20 – 26, 2013 was National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week and safety experts told us some alarming truths about lead poisoning in children. Despite being banned in 1978, lead-based paint continues to be the number one source for lead exposure in children. But it is not the only source. New cases reveal that lead […]
What’s wrong with this compressed gas cylinder? #HazardSpotting
#HazardSpotting is a community safety initiative that helps raise awareness about dangerous workplace safety violations. Our audience submits pictures, and we write an article with insight from featured safety professionals. In our twelfth edition, we’re examining transportation and storage hazards of compressed gas cylinders with guest insight from Frank Fox. Some things you stumble upon […]
9 revealing safety signs in “Breaking Bad”
We spoil major plot elements of Breaking Bad in this post – pretty much everything except how it ends. Over the course of the show Breaking Bad, we watch Walter White’s transformation from a mild-mannered and chronically poor chemistry teacher to an ego-driven meth kingpin. But since it begins as a glorified fish-out-of-water tale, a […]
