​​Influenza Vaccination Coverage Among Health Care Personnel — United States, 2016–17 Influenza Season

Update: Below is the CDC summary of "​​Influenza Vaccination Coverage Among Health Care Personnel" but I would like to report that the current methods of ​​Influenza Vaccine have lead to the effectiveness of the influenza vaccine against any influenza illness of 48%. Among children 2 to 17 years of age, the inactivated influenza vaccine was 60% effective (see https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28792867)

CDC - Weekly The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends annual influenza vaccination for all health care personnel (HCP) to reduce influenza-related morbidity and mortality in health care settings. For the 2015–16 influenza season, the estimated overall influenza vaccination coverage among health care personnel was 79.0%.

....Overall, vaccination coverage in 2016–17 was highest among physicians (95.8%), nurse practitioners and physician assistants (92.0%), nurses (92.6%), and pharmacists (93.7%), and lowest among other clinical HCP (80.0%), assistants and aides (69.1%), and nonclinical HCP (73.7%) (Table 1). However, in hospital settings, vaccination coverage was approximately 90% or higher in all occupational groups, including assistants and aides and nonclinical personnel.

Discussion: The overall influenza vaccination coverage estimate among HCP was 78.6% in the 2016–17 season, an increase of 15 percentage points since the 2010–11 season, but similar to the 2013–14 through 2015–16 seasons (5). As in previous seasons, the highest coverage was among HCP whose workplace had vaccination requirements. In the absence of requirements, HCP with vaccination available at their workplace had higher coverage than those without on-site vaccination. HCP working in hospital settings consistently reported higher vaccination coverage than did those working in other settings and were the most likely to report workplace vaccination requirements and on-site vaccination. Even in occupational groups with lower overall coverage (i.e., assistants, aides, and nonclinical personnel), hospital personnel reported vaccination coverage ≥90%. In the 2016–17 season, 93.7% of HCP working in hospital settings reported either having a vaccination requirement or having on-site vaccination for at least 1 day. Most vaccinated HCP reported being vaccinated at their place of work, underscoring the importance of workplace vaccination availability.

Read full at:

https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/66/wr/mm6638a1.htm%E2%80%8B%E2%80%8B

Sources and resources:

Carla L. Black, PhD1; Xin Yue; MPS, MS1; Sarah W. Ball, ScD2; Rebecca Fink, MPH2; Marie A. de Perio, MD3; A. Scott Laney, PhD4; Walter W. Williams, MD1; Megan C. Lindley, MPH1; Samuel B. Graitcer, MD1; Peng-Jun Lu, MD, PhD1; Rebecca Devlin, MA2; Stacie M. Greby, DVM1

http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6638a1​​

https://www.cdc.gov/nhsn/cms/index.html

https://www.cdc.gov/flu/toolkit/long-term-care/index.htm.

Health and Safety Report - Tool Ergonomics, ​Dust Exposure, WHMIS Update and Workplace Mental Health workshop

Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety

Getting a Grip on Hand Tool Ergonomics

Using hand tools to install a ceiling fan, fix a car, or repair plumbing are just a few situations where you can find yourself working with tools held above your head, in tight spaces, and in awkward body positions for extended periods. By properly selecting and using hand tools, you can prevent serious injuries, musculoskeletal disorders and unnecessary suffering, as well as lost workdays.

For many workers, using hammers, wrenches, pliers, screwdrivers, and other hand tools is part of their day-to-day work. Non-powered and powered hand tools, such as drills, are widely used in a variety of industries as well as at home.

Along with common injuries such as cuts and bruises, the frequent and extended use of hand tools can cause soreness, aches, pains, and fatigue, which, when ignored, can lead to chronic musculoskeletal disorders. Musculoskeletal disorders are injuries or disorders that affect the musculoskeletal system, including muscles, tendons and nerves. Common examples of musculoskeletal disorders are tendonitis, tenosynovitis, bursitis, tennis elbow (epicondylitis), and carpal tunnel syndrome.

You can help reduce these types of injuries and work-related musculoskeletal disorders by choosing the right tool for the job and using it correctly.  Using a well-designed tool that fits your hand without causing awkward postures or harmful contact pressures, will help decrease the physical demand required to complete the task. If you use a tool that doesn't fit your hand or use it in a way in which it was not intended, you risk developing an injury.

SIGNS OF INJURY

Problems that result from prolonged usage of the wrong tool or the right tool used improperly can appear as symptoms such as tingling, swelling of joints, decreased ability to move, continual muscle fatigue, sore muscles, numbness, change in skin colour of your hands or fingertips, and pain from movement, pressure, or exposure to cold or vibration.

These symptoms may not appear immediately - they can develop over weeks, months, or years. By then, the damage may be serious, so it's important to take preventative action.

HAZARDS

Static load, awkward working positions and postures, and tissue compression are all factors that can cause discomfort, fatigue and, eventually, musculoskeletal disorders.

Static load

Static load or effort occurs when you keep your muscles tense, motionless, elevated or extended for a period of time. Bending and twisting the neck or the whole torso can also increase static load considerably. When you add the exertion of force required by hand tools the static load can increase even further.

Static effort increases the pressure on muscles, tissues, tendons and ligaments. It reduces blood flow which can cause muscles to tire at a much quicker rate than they would when performing work involving movement. Statically loaded muscles are much more vulnerable to fatigue and subsequent injury than muscles which are performing dynamic work. Furthermore, muscles which are tired by static work take more than 10 times longer to recover from fatigue.

Awkward working positions and body postures

Hand tools can be useful when working in tight spaces and when access is difficult.  However, working in a tight space often means working in an awkward position. When the hand holds and uses a tool in an awkward position, it has less strength. When your arm is uncomfortable, the rest of your body is likely to be so as well, because it is natural to compensate for discomfort by trying to realign the body by bending the back, rounding the shoulders, tilting the neck, and so on. Awkward positions of the upper body increase the effort needed to complete the task. The resulting fatigue, discomfort, and pain add to the risk for developing injury.

Tissue compression

Using a hand tool requires a firm grip. However, if you are gripping too hard the resulting compression of soft tissue in the palm and fingers may obstruct blood circulation, resulting in numbness and tingling.

TOOL SELECTION

Selecting ergonomically designed tools and using them properly can help avoid pain and injury. This is particularly important when the job requires movements that are repetitive and forceful.

Some basic tips when using hand tools:

• Select the right tool for the job. Substitutes increase the chance of having an accident.
• Consider power tools for repetitive tasks, if appropriate.
• Use tools designed to allow the wrist to stay straight. Avoid using hand tools with your wrist bent.
• Use good quality tools.
• Pull on a wrench or pliers. Never push unless you hold the tool with your palm open.

The best tool is one that:

• Fits the job you are doing
• Fits the work space available
• Reduces the force you need to apply
• Fits your hand
• Can be used in a comfortable work position

Taking care and precautions up front can help to prevent a lot of pain and serious injury. 

 

RESOURCES

• Hand Tool Ergonomics – Introduction fact sheet, CCOHS
• Hand Tool Ergonomics – Health Hazards fact sheet, CCOHS
• Hand Tool Ergonomics – Tool Design fact sheet, CCOHS
• Hand Tools General - Hand Tool Operation fact sheet, CCOHS
• Hand Tool Ergonomics fact sheet, CCOHS
• Easy Ergonomics: A Guide to Selecting Non-Powered Hand Tools PDF, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Diseases, Disorders & Injuries fact sheet, CCOHS

Wood

​​

Dust Exposure: Keep it Down!

Wood dust is more than just a nose irritant floating in the air of a workshop or lingering on the floor waiting to be cleaned up. Breathing in these tiny dust particles can be harmful and, over time, make you sick.

Working with wood, such as sawing, routing, and sanding, can create wood dust. When the dust becomes airborne, you are at risk of exposure and inhaling it into your lungs. This can happen when removing sawdust from furniture, during maintenance activities, or when cleaning equipment (for example, emptying the bag from a dust system or vacuum). Fine dust produced from processes such as shaping, routing and sanding are associated with higher exposure levels. Hardwoods (such as maple and oak) generally produce more dust than softwoods (for example, cedar and pine) when used in similar conditions. Dry wood tends to produce more dust than fresher woods.

Health effects

Exposure to wood dust has been associated with health issues due to the natural chemicals or substances in the wood such as bacteria, moulds, and fungi. Wood dust is also associated with toxic effects, irritation of the eyes, nose and throat, dermatitis, and decreased lung capacity and allergic reactions. Wood dust exposure can cause asthma, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, chronic bronchitis, and cancers in the nose and throat areas.   Understanding the potential health risks of breathing in wood dust can be an important step in addressing this workplace hazard and protecting workers from harm.

Workers at risk

Some occupations are at an increased risk for exposure to wood dust including logging, sawmill work, furniture and cabinet making, carpentry, cleaning or maintenance where wood dust is present, construction and shipbuilding.

Safety tips for working around wood dust

• Educate and train employees about the hazards of wood dust exposure, safe work procedures, how to identify when a ventilation system is working appropriately, and the importance of control measures.
• Read, understand, and follow health and safety information on the safety data sheet (where available and applicable).
• Know the wood you are working with and all hazards associated with that wood.
• Use wood with no, or fewer known, health effects where possible.
• Reduce the amount of dust generated by reducing the need to cut or shape the wood.
• Use an appropriately designed industrial ventilation system, including local ventilation exhaust and using high-efficiency particulate (HEPA) filters. The design of the ventilation system will depend on the equipment being used (sanders, shapers, routers, saws, etc.).
• Use on-tool dust extraction systems.
• Keep tools and blades sharp. Dull blades may release more dust into the air.
• Be aware that you can be highly exposed to dust when cleaning (for example, emptying dust bags) or maintaining equipment.
• Practice good housekeeping, and keep surfaces and floors clear.
• Use wet clean-up methods such as wiping surfaces with a wet rag or mop or use a vacuum with a HEPA filter to avoid re-introducing the dust into the air.
• Avoid using compressed air to blow dust off of furniture, equipment or clothing.
• Bag and seal dust waste to prevent dust from re-entering the air.
• To prevent a combustible dust explosion, don't allow wood dust to accumulate, including on ledges, ceiling beams, light fixtures, and hidden areas.
• Wear respiratory protection when appropriate.
• Use protective clothing and gloves to reduce skin exposure.
• Wash or shower to remove dust from skin. Wash hands and face when finished a task, and before eating, drinking or smoking. Clean clothes by washing or using a vacuum when washing facilities are not available.

 

Additional Resources:

• Wood Dust - Health Effects fact sheet, CCOHS
• Health Hazards, Wood Dust, Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA)
• Health Effects From Exposure to Wood Dust PDF, Government of Alberta
• Wood Dust, WorkSafeBC

​​

New OHS Legislation App for Saskatchewan

For thousands of homebuilding, commercial and industrial construction companies and workers in Saskatchewan, accessing provincial health and safety regulations and employment legislation just got easier. A new app from the Saskatchewan Construction Safety Association (SCSA), Guide to OHS Legislation, is intended to help Saskatchewan employers and employees understand and comply with the legislative obligations within their workplaces. Each of the guide's 20 topics includes a summary and related resources such as hazard alerts and safety talks.

 "The OHS Regulations and Saskatchewan Employment Act are more than 500 pages in length. While workers, supervisors, and other managers are required to adhere to the Regulations and Act, it is often impractical for people to carry such a massive document in their back pocket" says Collin Pullar, president of the SCSA. "We felt that there was a need for a quick reference tool that focussed on some of the most common issues in construction safety with direct reference to the Regulations and Act. From the onset, we determined that the tool had to contain brief, plain language summaries and links to additional resources and training that employers and workers could benefit from. It had to be accessible anywhere and to anyone."

The Saskatchewan Construction Safety Association collaborated with the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) to develop the mobile app as well as a web-based version.

You can download the app from either the Apple App Store or Google Play. To check out the web-based version visit: http://ohsguide.scsaonline.ca.

​Podcasts: WHMIS 2015 Update: Tips to Transition

This month's featured podcast is an interview with CCOHS' Jennifer Dipper, who shares WHMIS 2015 transition tips and information.

Feature Podcast: WHMIS 2015 Update: Tips to Transition

In this episode, Jennifer Dipper, Supervisor of General Health and Safety Services at the CCOHS shares WHMIS 2015 transition tips and key information workplaces need to know about meeting the new deadlines.

The podcast runs 7:24 minutes. Listen to the podcast now.

Encore Podcast: Ergonomic Risk Factors of Office Work

While office work may seem harmless, prolonged sitting, typing on a keyboard and using a mouse for hours at a time every day can set the stage for musculoskeletal injuries. In this podcast, CCOHS explains the three ergonomic risk factors of office work.

The podcast runs 4:36 minutes. Listen to the podcast now.

 

CCOHS produces free monthly podcasts on a wide variety of topics designed to keep you current with information, tips, and insights into the health, safety, and well-being of working Canadians. You can download the audio segment to your computer or MP3 player and listen to it at your own convenience... or on the go!

See the complete list of podcast topics. Better yet, subscribe to the series on iTunes and don't miss a single episode​

​ Saint John Workshop Offers Practical Approach to Address Workplace Mental Health

Mental health is a key component of a healthy workplace. And as part of healthy workplace, employers are required to protect their employees and address all workplace hazards, including psychosocial hazards. Many organizations, including the federal government, are committed to implementing the National Standard of Canada for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace as part of their health and safety programs.  To help organizations advance from awareness to action, CCOHS is conducting a practical one-day workshop, "Creating Your Healthy Workplace".

This workshop will equip leaders and champions of mental health with the framework, tools and resources they need to develop and implement a comprehensive healthy workplace program that addresses mental health.

Promoting a workplace culture that balances work, life, safety, health and wellness brings many rewards, including a more enjoyable and productive work environment, and happier, healthier employees who feel encouraged, supported and rewarded for their efforts.

Workshop details

October 3, 2017 from 8:30 am to 4 pm
Delta Hotels by Marriott, 39 King Street, Saint John, New Brunswick

$425 per person; materials, refreshments and lunch included

Register online. Space is limited.​

Does coffee get a Prop 65 warning? What is acrylamide? Is it true that coffee and cocoa contain this toxin?

ConsumerLab: Acrylamide is a neurotoxin and probable carcinogen (cancer causing agent) formed when certain starchy foods, such as wheat and potatoes, are cooked at high temperatures (>248 degrees Fahrenheit). It can also be produced when coffee and cocoa beans are roasted. Although no level of exposure is absolutely safe, amounts of acrylamide consumed by most adults is believed to represent a very low level of risk. Nevertheless, there are steps you can take to reduce your exposure. 

How much is safe? 
Exposure to even extremely small amounts of acrylamide may very slightly increase cancer risk, which has led the State of California to require a cancer warning on foods providing more than 0.2 mcg of acrylamide per daily serving (below which there is no significant risk of cancer), although up to 140 mcg is permitted before a warning regarding reproductive toxicity is required. The U.S. EPA also uses this higher 140 mcg amount (based on 2 mcg of acrylamide per kilogram of body weight) as its chronic reference dose for risk to the nervous system. 

How much is in what we eat? 
An adult weighing 150 lb consumes about 35 mcg of acrylamide per day (0.5 mcg/kg of bodyweight) (Mucci, J Agric Food Chem 2008). This is way below the 140 mcg limit of the EPA, although way above California's very stringent limit of 0.2 mcg, noted above. 

In the U.S., fried potato products (i.e., French fries, potato chips, roasted potatoes) account for the greatest source of acrylamide in the diet, accounting for up to 38% of average exposure for adults, followed by crackers, cookies and cakes (17%), bread (14%), snacks such as roasted nuts, and popcorn (14%), cereal products (9%), and lastly, coffee (8%) (Friedman, J Agric Food Chem 2008). 

Coffee 
Green coffee beans contain asparagine (it is the second-highest concentration amino acid in coffee beans) as well as sucrose (sugar). When roasted, significant amounts of acrylamide can be produced; however, brewed coffee (most of which is water) contains only about 2 mcg per 8-ounce cup of coffee. 

Cocoa 
As with coffee beans, cocoa beans are typically roasted during processing, resulting in the production of acrylamide. FDA tests of various cocoa powders and dark chocolate baking bars in 2002 showed amounts of acrylamide ranging from 0.29 mcg to 4.5 mcg per serving (see the Acrylamide table in the Dark Chocolates and Cocoas Review); however, there was no detectable acrylamide found in a popular milk chocolate bar. 

What can I do to reduce my acrylamide intake? 
Potatoes 
Limit your intake of roasted, baked and fried potatoes, chips, etc. Store raw potatoes in a cool dry place, such as a pantry or cupboard — not in the refrigerator, as the cold temperature increases the amount of sugars in potatoes, increasing acrylamide generation during high-heat cooking. Fry at the lowest possible temperature for the shortest possible amount of time (aim for a golden yellow color rather than golden brown) (Prop 65 Acrylamide Fact Sheet 2017). Soaking sliced potatoes in water for 15 to 30 minutes (or for 5 minutes in warm, slightly salted water) before frying or roasting may also reduce acrylamide formation (Pedreschi, J Sci Food Agric 2014). 

Coffee 
Several factors can modestly reduce the amount of acrylamide in your coffee when prepared at home (Soares, Coffee in Health and Disease Prevention 2015):

• Choose coffee made from Arabica beans, which contain lower amounts of asparagine than Robusta beans. However, be aware that this won't guarantee lower acrylamide, since amounts are also affected by roasting time, temperature, etc.



• Store coffee before using for longer periods of time. Acrylamide levels in commercial ground coffee and beans decrease over time when stored in their original container. Reductions of 40—60% have been reported in coffees stored at room temperature over a period of 6—12 months.



• Plunger pot and filtered, drip brew coffee preparation typically results in less acrylamide than coffee prepared by decoction (such as Turkish coffee) and pressure preparation (French press, expresso).

Cocoa 
Milk chocolate and alkalized cocoa products may contain less acrylamide than non-alkalized dark chocolate, but will also contain lower amounts of healthy flavanols. 

The bottom line: 
Acrylamide is a neurotoxin and probable carcinogen formed when cooking certain foods at high temperatures. Fried and roasted potato products are the greatest source of dietary acrylamide exposure in the U.S. Brewed coffee and cocoa also contain small amounts of acrylamide. It is possible to reduce exposure to acrylamide by avoiding certain foods and modifying the way you prepare potatoes and coffee, as discussed above. 
 

October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month

October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month (NCSAM). NSCAM is a collaborative effort between DHS and its public and private partners-including the National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA)-to raise awareness about the vital role cybersecurity plays in the lives of U.S. citizens. US-CERT will be participating in NCSAM through weekly posts in the Current Activity section of the US-CERT website. Over the course of the month, these will touch on

• basic online safety,
• cybersecurity at work,
• protecting personal information,
• careers in cybersecurity, and
• cybersecurity and critical infrastructure.

Users and administrators are encouraged to review the Stay Safe Online NCSAM page and the Stay Safe Online NCSAM Events page for additional information and details on NCSA event

California Governor Expected to Sign Chemical Disclosure Bill

(PAINT.ORG) California Gov. Jerry Brown (D) is expected to sign a chemical disclosure bill, the Cleaning Product Right to Know Act of 2017 (S.B. 258). If enacted, the measure that was passed by the California Senate and Assembly earlier this month, would require companies to identify on labels and online information the chemical ingredients found in cleaning products; that is, household and institutional products, and automotive care products, but not industrial products or cosmetics.

Brown has until Oct. 15 to sign or veto the bill.

If signed into law, manufacturers would have until Jan. 1, 2020, to post ingredients and other product information on their websites. New labels listing intentionally added chemicals would be required a year later.

The bill, which passed in the Senate on a final 28-12 vote Sept. 13, and in the Assembly the day before, provides for the protection of proprietary information — a key point that was negotiated by industry groups.

No federal regulations require the disclosure of most ingredients in cleaning products. New York, which has a cleaning products ingredient disclosure law on the books, is finalizing guidance for industry.

The measure would require ingredients identified as causing cancer or other health and environmental harm by California, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, European Union, or other regulatory bodies, to be identified on labels and online.

ACA had been engaged and monitoring the bill and its former iteration that died in the last legislative session — AB 708 (Jones-Sawyer) Ingredient Disclosure on Consumer Products, which was initially going to require ingredient disclosure for a) Air care products, b) Automotive products, c) General cleaning products, and d) Polish or floor maintenance cleaners. ACA and its California Paint Council worked to ensure that paints were specifically excluded from the definition of automotive products.

Sea salt around the world is contaminated by plastic, @JessicaGlenza

​TheGuardian via @JessicaGlenza

....Sea salt around the world has been contaminated by plastic pollution, adding to experts' fears that microplastics are becoming ubiquitous in the environment and finding their way into the food chain via the salt in our diets.

Following this week's revelations in the Guardian about levels of plastic contamination in tap water, new studies have shown that tiny particles have been found in sea salt in the UK, France and Spain, as well as China and now the US.

Researchers believe the majority of the contamination comes from microfibres and single-use plastics such as water bottles, items that comprise the majority of plastic waste. Up to 12.7m tonnes of plastic enters the world's oceans every year, equivalent to dumping one garbage truck of plastic per minute into the world's oceans, according to the United Nations.

"Not only are plastics pervasive in our society in terms of daily use, but they are pervasive in the environment," said Sherri Mason, a professor at the State University of New York at Fredonia, who led the latest research into plastic contamination in salt. Plastics are "ubiquitous, in the air, water, the seafood we eat, the beer we drink, the salt we use – plastics are just everywhere".

Mason collaborated with researchers at the University of Minnesota to examine microplastics in salt, beer and drinking water. Her research looked at 12 different kinds of salt (including 10 sea salts) bought from US grocery stores around the world. The Guardian received an exclusive look at the forthcoming study.

​​Mason found Americans could be ingesting upwards of 660 particles of plastic each year, if they follow health officials' advice to eat 2.3 grammes of salt per day. However, most Americans could be ingesting far more, as health officials believe 90% of Americans eat too much salt.

The health impact of ingesting plastic is not known. Scientists have struggled to research the impact of plastic on the human body, because they cannot find a control group of humans who have not been exposed.

"Everybody is being exposed to some degree at any given time, from gestation through death," researchers from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Arizona State University wrote in 2013. "Detectable levels of [the plastic] bisphenol A have been found in the urine of 95% of the adult population of the United States."

"There is no clear effect on human health because there are no studies on that subject," said Juan Conesa, a professor who conducted research on sea salt at the University of Alicante in Spain. "But the increase of plastics in general in the environment will also [increase exposure]," Conesa said.

​Read on: 

​TheGuardian via @JessicaGlenza​

​

New Video on Protecting Oil & Gas Workers

CDPH: A new video is now available to reduce oil and gas worker injuries and fatalities from exposure to toxic gases during tank gauging. The video is a collaboration of the Occupational Health Branch (OHB) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). You can watch a short preview, or the full-length video.

There are thousands of workers employed in oil and gas extraction in California – a workforce that is critical to the energy infrastructure of the nation. Workers at oil tank sites can be exposed to hydrocarbon gases and vapors, oxygen-deficient atmospheres, fires, and explosions when they open tank hatches to manually gauge (measure) fluid levels or collect fluid samples. These preventable exposures can have immediate health effects, including loss of consciousness and death.

OHB's Fatality Assessment Control and Evaluation (FACE) Program has additional videos to educate workers and employers on how to prevent on-the-job injuries and fatalities. Videos and supporting materials can be found on the FACE Digital Stories Page.

Help resources for fentanyl exposure to emergency responders

The following is a link to a NIOSH webpage on fentanyl exposure to emergency responders, which includes recommendations based on best available evidence, https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/fentanyl/risk.html

 

This is a link to a related NIOSH science blog, 

https://blogs.cdc.gov/niosh-science-blog/2017/06/22/fentanyl/

 

This is a link to guidance developed by the Interagency Board for Equipment Standardization and Interoperability, https://www.interagencyboard.org/sites/default/files/publications/IAB%20First%20Responder%20PPE%20and%20Decontamination%20Recommendations%20for%20Fentanyl.pdf. 

Kids Say the Darnest Things Hilarious Dangerous Goods Version!

Labelmaster kicked off the recent 2017 Dangerous Goods Symposium with a video that had nearly 300 DG professionals roaring in laughter.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUKuk-4KnWE&feature=youtu.be

Kids Say the DG'est Things introduces kids to the challenges dangerous goods and hazmat professionals face every day, and their candid responses are adorable, hilarious and – ultimately – a touching tribute to the importance of the DG professional.

We hope you enjoy this video and feel free to publish it on your website, newsletter or blog!

Seminar: Plastics Producers Solutions on Marine Litter

Presented by Stewart Harris - Director, Marine and Environmental Stewardship, Plastics Division at the American Chemistry Council

When: Thursday, October 5, 2017  12-1 PM CDT Where:  Illinois Sustainable Technology Center - 1 E Hazelwood Dr. Champaign, IL 61820 There is free parking in the circle drive, bike parking, or the Yellow bus stops one block from ISTC. Feel free to bring your lunch.

A 2015 study published in Science estimated that 4.8 to 12.7 million metric tons of plastic waste enter our oceans annually, with the origin of marine litter closely related to populations concentrated near oceans and the quality of waste management systems. Although research shows the environmental cost of using plastics is nearly four times less than the cost that would result if plastics were replaced with other materials in certain applications, marine litter is still a big impact on the environment and must be reduced. In March 2011, leaders from 47 plastics associations across the globe launched a Declaration of the Global Plastics Associations for Solutions on Marine Litter, a public commitment to help tackle the global problem of plastic litter in the marine environment. These industry leaders identified six areas for initiatives aimed at contributing to sustainable solutions: education, research, public policy, sharing best practices, plastics recycling/recovery, and plastic pellet containment. By December 2015, 260 projects had been planned, were underway, or completed. The projects vary widely, from enhanced recycling to beach clean ups, and from global research to awareness and education campaigns; and include examples of innovative approaches to private sector engagement.

Biography:  Stewart Harris is the Director of Marine and Environmental Stewardship at the American Chemistry Council's (ACC) Plastics Division where he manages ACC's Marine Debris program. He is also Chair of the Advocacy Committee for the plastics industry's Global Action Team, which implements the Declaration of the Global Plastics Associations for Solutions on Marine Litter. As part of the Global Declaration, 69 signatories from 35 countries have implemented over 260 projects addressing marine litter since 2011. Stewart has a Master of Science in Marine‐Estuarine Environmental Science from the University of Maryland and a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Bucknell University.

Can't attend in person? Register to view the seminar online.

NEW SPILL TRACKER ENLISTS CROWD TO HELP MONITOR POLLUTION AFTER HURRICANES

Civic Hall: After Hurricane Harvey hit Texas, a nonprofit organization that uses satellite imagery to monitor the environment launched a tool for citizens to report pollution caused by flooding. Built on the crowdmapping platform Ushahidi, the Harvey Spill Tracker maps reports of oil, chemical, or hazardous waste spills and other incidents based on satellite images, eyewitness accounts, and National Response Center alerts. Later today the organization will release an updated version that expands the region covered to parts of the country impacted by Hurricane Irma.

The outpouring of volunteer support for Houston after the city was inundated by floodwaters was mostly in the form of emergency response and recovery—putting residents stranded in their homes in touch with rescuers, and informing them about nearby shelters. Most recently, those volunteers have been in the spotlight for repurposing tools built to respond to Harvey for Miami and other parts of Florida affected by Hurricane Irma. But even though the nation's collective attention span has shifted to the southeast, the clean-up of south Texas has only just begun.

Founded by a geologist named John Amos in 2001, SkyTruth is best known as the organization that first challenged BP's estimate of the oil spill after the offshore drilling rig Deepwater Horizon exploded in 2010. Using satellite images, the SkyTruth team calculated that the rate of flow from the leak was five to 25 times more than BP was reporting. In addition to the ongoing monitoring of oil spills in the Gulf of Mexico, the organization also keeps an eye on mountaintop removal in Appalachia. For years, SkyTruth also used satellite images to blow the whistle on illegal fishing, but one month ago Global Fishing Watch was spun out as an independent project.

The Harvey Spill Tracker—or SkyTruth Spill Tracker, as they have renamed it after expanding to other parts of the country—is similar to the Gulf Oil Spill Tracker SkyTruth launched in 2010 and operated until April of this year, when the team decided a dedicated tracker for the Deepwater Horizon spill was no longer necessary. It collects pollution reports in one place, and makes the information available to the public as well as the relevant authorities.

"We believe if people can easily communicate their needs, organizations and governments can more effectively respond," Amos wrote in a blog post announcing the launch. "We have notified the Texas Railroad Commission about the site, and they (like any user) will be able to download the reports in a standard *.csv format, readable by any spreadsheet or database software. With your help, this should prove to be a useful resource for aiding the response and recovery efforts."

Tracey Foster, SkyTruth's communications director, told Civicist that it is important to keep environmental issues visible even when short-term cleanup and recovery seems more urgent.

"It's an aspect that can sometimes get missed," Foster said. "There's more emphasis than ever before on the human impact of natural disasters but public attention is so short, and everyone is thinking about Irma and nobody's thinking about the toxic stew that people are wading through after Harvey."

Photo: Army National Guard by Lt. Zachary West

There has already been some excellent coverage of some of the environmental hazards in Houston after Harvey—including the Associated Press's survey of Superfund sites—but these issues will need to be revisited again and again in the future to ensure proper cleanup. Foster said SkyTruth's role is to keep the spotlight on the long-term effects "as best we can."

The organization has a small cadre of 571 volunteers who are notified when there are opportunities for chipping in on crowdsourced projects, like scanning satellite images of the ocean for the tell-tale signs of an oil slick, but Foster said Amos would like to grow that base into "a SkyTruthing movement where citizen scientists are using our platform to report and share information."

Scott Eustis, a coastal wetland specialist with the Gulf Restoration Network, has also been monitoring the environmental situation in Texas. He went flying last Monday over Beaumont and Port Arthur, TX, and on Saturday over Houston to look for signs of pollution, and planned to report any oil sheens or other signs to the Harvey Spill Tracker.

Eustis told Civicist that he hopes citizen science can help repair some of the environmental injustices that have occurred in Houston and other parts of Texas. He pointed out that the majority of oil refineries in the area are located in or near primarily poor, minority communities, and those communities will bear the brunt of the pollution.

"Citizen science gives us an opportunity to see that and recognize it and work through a lens of environmental justice," Eustis said. "It's not just we're going to have 2,000 reports. It's not just quantity—it's that you have a whole new quality. You're going to have reports from people who have been silenced in the past."

Read full by BY: JESSICA MCKENZIE

https://civichall.org/civicist/new-spill-tracker-enlists-crowd-help-monitor-pollution-hurricanes/

Interns: A secret weapon to curb corporate pollution

GLRPPR: In 1990, Congress passed the Pollution Prevention Act. Pollution Prevention (P2) Week, celebrated during the third week of September each year (September 17-23, 2017),  highlights the efforts of EPA, its state partners, industry, and the public in preventing pollution right from the start. Here at GLRPPR, we'll be publishing a P2 related blog post each day (starting Monday) and will also be spreading the P2 message on Twitter using the hashtag #P2Week.

The  U.S. Environmental Protection Agency have information about events occurring throughout the country. The National Pollution Prevention Roundtable also has a handy P2 Week Toolkit from 2014 for organizations looking for ways to participate.

Within the region, the Indiana Department of Environmental Management will hold its 20th Annual Pollution Prevention Conference and Trade Show on September 19-20 in Plainfield, IN. The theme is "Celebrating 20 Years of Pollution Prevention in Indiana." The conference will also include presentations of the Governor's Awards for Environmental Excellence. Managing Risk Through Pollution Prevention, a full-day workshop held on the day before the IDEM conference, will lead companies to a better understanding of environmental risk management and how to reduce those risks with pollution prevention techniques. The day will combine lecture with hands on exercises to lead the group towards identification of specific practices they can undertake at their facilities to reduce risk.

The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality has compiled a P2 Week Planner, which includes a sample resolution and press release.

Is your organization doing something for P2 Week? Let us know in the comments.

A cruise ship's emissions are the same as 1 million cars: report

CBC Radio: A luxury cruise vacation may sound like a perfect dream holiday, but a German environmental organization says that in terms of environmental impact, the industry is an absolute nightmare.

​Nabu has just released its annual report on cruise ship pollution. It looked at dozens of vessels travelling in Europe, and decided not to recommend any of them. 

Dietmar Oeliger is one of the authors and head of transport policy at Nabu. He spoke with As it Happens host Carol Off from Berlin. Here is part of their conversation. 

Dietmar Oeliger is head of transport at Nabu, a German environmental association. He co-authored a study that gives a failing grade to the cruise ship industry's environmental management. (Twitter)

Were there really no cruise ships that you looked at that you could recommend?

Unfortunately not. We found out that pollution from the cruise ship industry is still massive, even despite that they claim newer vessels are clean and green. We made measurements at quite a few cruise lines, and it proves that nearly all of them, their attitude to the environment is still poor.

Why are they so bad for the environment?

All of them run on the dirtiest fuel you can imagine. It's heavy fuel oil, it's quite toxic. It's a residual of the petrol industry, and it contains a lot of dirty stuff.

'The cruise companies know what they are doing, and they know about the problems. But still, they order new ships and don't install emission abatement systems.'- Dietmar Oeliger

And on top of that, nearly all of the cruise ships don't have a catalyst or a particulate filter, [like] trucks and cars. That, altogether, sums up to really poor environmental situations.

The report says that a mid-sized cruise ship can use as much as 150 tonnes of fuel each day, which emits as much particulate as one million cars. Is that right?

That's correct. And the reason for this is that their engines run 24/7. Even if they're in the ports, they have to keep running their engines, because it's not only a transport mode, it's a hotel facility. They have a spa on board, restaurants ... and that needs a lot of energy — more or less the same energy a mid-sized city needs.

• AS IT HAPPENS: Oil billionaire funds ship to remove plastic from ocean

What does it mean for those who are actually cruising around on the boats themselves?

Unfortunately, we were not allowed as an organization to have measurements on board. Therefore, we helped two major TV stations from Germany and one from France to go undercover on board and take measurements with our help. It showed that the amount of emissions that passengers breathe on board is more than twenty times higher than on a main road with a lot of pollution. 

You write in the report that the cruise ship companies "show contempt for their customers." What do you mean by that?

The cruise companies know what they are doing. And they know about the problems that result from their emissions.

But, still, they order new ships and don't install emission abatement systems on their ships. Most of the newest ships, that cost about a billion dollars, they don't even have an emission abatement system that would cost about a million. I would say this is really irresponsible. 

A group prepares to take a polar plunge in the Bering Sea in front of the luxury cruise ship Crystal Serenity (which was not included in the NABU report). (Mark Thiessen/The Associated Press)

This is a competitive industry, they're all cutting costs where they can. So is it really the companies themselves that should be making these changes, or should this be legislated?

Read on at: http://www.cbc.ca/radio/asithappens/as-it-happens-wednesday-edition-1.4277147/a-cruise-ship-s-emissions-are-the-same-as-1-million-cars-report-1.4277180

Can Congress cut food waste? It depends on the success of this bill @codyboteler

(WASTE DIVE) by Cody Boteler: For decades, the federal government has regulated how landfills operate, how air and water are protected and how dangerous sites are cleaned up. However, the federal government has yet to implement a national policy on how to handle food waste.

The lack of federal guidance on food waste has left the U.S. with a patchwork of food waste solutions, with some states, like New Jersey, pursuing ambitious food waste goals — while others seem to all but ignore the issue. Now with the introduction of the Food Recovery Act (H.R. 3444), a vision of what could become the first national food waste policy is taking shape. A similar measure was introduced in 2015, but did not make it out of committee.

Rep. Chellie Pingree introduced the legislation at the end of June, and it has been referred to half a dozen House committees. Sen. Richard Blumenthal introduced the same legislation in the Senate a few days later. While some time may pass before either measure comes to a vote — especially since Congress is now in recess — even a trimmed-down version of the introduced measures would have wide-ranging implications for how the U.S. handles food waste. Featured here is a breakdown of some of the impacts of the legislation, if enacted into law. 

Implications for anaerobic digestion (AD)

One of the biggest implications from the bill is the new requirements it would put on anyone seeking a grant or a loan from the federal government to install an anaerobic digester. In order to qualify for the loan or grant, the AD operator would have to submit two items to the Department of Agriculture: a written agreement to adhere to the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) food recovery hierarchy and a written plan on what to do with the digestate that's left behind after biogas is produced from AD.

The law would also prohibit the Department of Agriculture from issuing loans to AD operations that use only manure, and require the department to give preference to AD operations that use "primarily" food waste. This requirement could prove to be a boon for energy production, as food scraps and other food waste have a much higher energy potential than manure from any animal.

Implications for schools

Schools will be encouraged — though not required — to purchase "lower-price, nonstandard-size or -shape produce." Put more simply: Schools will be encouraged to purchase ugly food for their nutritional programs.

"Ugly food," which is largely made up of misshapen or slightly damaged produce, is just as healthy and safe as conventional-looking produce. However it often goes to waste on a retail-level because grocery stores don't want to stock it and turn off customers. By introducing ugly food in schools, the education system would not only help combat the food waste issue, but would also expose a younger generation to accepting and eating food that may look unconventional.

Implications for the private sector

Date labels, a longtime bane of food waste advocates, would finally be standardized on the federal level. Under the legislation, if a labeler wants to include a "quality" label, they must use the phrase "BEST if Used By." Any food that could expire, or would otherwise require a safety label, will need to have the phrase "USE By." This mandated distinction will, ideally, lead to fewer consumers tossing out food if they're unsure whether it's safe to consume. An optional "Freeze By" label would also be permissible.

The Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act would be lightly amended to further protect those whom food is being donated to. The law would be amended to specify that "apparently fit" grocery products and "apparently wholesome" food meet "safety and safety-related" standards, not just "quality and labeling" standards as the law currently reads.

It would also become easier to donate food. The passage of the date on a date label would be codified as not being a barrier to legal protection after donating food.

Implications for the federal government

Please read on by Cody Boteler