WASHINGTON — A bill was introduced last week by House of Representatives Democrats that would increase fines associated with violations to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) Occupational Safety and Health Act, including a new felony category for criminal violations, according to the Las Vegas Sun.
The bill was introduced two years ago, but is seeing more support now that Democrats have a clear majority in the House and an ally in the White House, the story stated.
Democratic Representative Lynn Woolsey said: "While thousands of workers have been saved as a result of OSHA, 16 workers are killed and 11,200 workers are injured or made ill each and every day. This legislation will strengthen OSHA by expanding coverage to millions of workers who are currently unprotected or inadequately protected, increasing civil and criminal penalties for those who violate the law, and by protecting those who blow the whistle on unsafe employer practices."
The proposed legislation would increase civil penalties for willful violations from a maximum of $70,000 to $120,000; the maximum penalty for serious violations would increase from $7,000 to $12,000, the story noted.
The bill would give workers and their families an avenue for challenging reductions in fines OSHA assesses on employers that are often reduced during the appeals process, the story added.
Click here to read the complete article.
Friday, May 1, 2009
VRE outbreak at hospital is over
OWEN SOUND, ON, Canada — An outbreak of Vancomycin-resistant Enterococci (VRE) that sickened six patients at a hospital last week is under control and the patients have stopped showing signs of the infection, according to a Canadian Press story hosted by Google.com.
The Owen Sound Regional Hospital was deemed safe and the "all-clear" was given after cleaning crews disinfected surfaces the bacteria live on like bed rails, telephones and doorknobs, the story stated.
Over the weekend, and as a precaution, strict visitation limits were put in place to curb the spread of the bacteria, the story noted.
VRE bacteria live in the human bowels and are resistant to Vancomycin, a strong antibiotic used in treatment, the story added.
Click here to read the complete article.
The Owen Sound Regional Hospital was deemed safe and the "all-clear" was given after cleaning crews disinfected surfaces the bacteria live on like bed rails, telephones and doorknobs, the story stated.
Over the weekend, and as a precaution, strict visitation limits were put in place to curb the spread of the bacteria, the story noted.
VRE bacteria live in the human bowels and are resistant to Vancomycin, a strong antibiotic used in treatment, the story added.
Click here to read the complete article.
Community upset over custodial outsourcing
RICHLAND, MI — The decision of many Detroit-area schools to research outsourcing custodial services has many workers and community members upset, according to the Kalamazoo Weekly.
In an effort to show their distaste with the decision, signs have been appearing in residents' front lawns around the community that say "No Privatization," the story stated.
Gull Lake High School, in particular, has had to cut their budget by $1.6 million, and school officials are looking to cut the custodial staff so teachers can keep their positions, the story noted.
Superintendent Christopher Rundle said: "We have to compare apples-to-apples. Will our buildings be as clean and as safe? If we can say 'yes' then that’s a potential savings. But those decisions haven’t been made yet."
Several schools in the area are currently accepting proposals to replace their in-house custodial services, the story added.
Click here to read the complete article.
In an effort to show their distaste with the decision, signs have been appearing in residents' front lawns around the community that say "No Privatization," the story stated.
Gull Lake High School, in particular, has had to cut their budget by $1.6 million, and school officials are looking to cut the custodial staff so teachers can keep their positions, the story noted.
Superintendent Christopher Rundle said: "We have to compare apples-to-apples. Will our buildings be as clean and as safe? If we can say 'yes' then that’s a potential savings. But those decisions haven’t been made yet."
Several schools in the area are currently accepting proposals to replace their in-house custodial services, the story added.
Click here to read the complete article.
Custodial supervisor enters guilty plea
SYRACUSE, NY — A former custodial supervisor at the Onondaga County Courthouse plead guilty to felony first-degree falsifying business records and a misdemeanor count of petit larceny, according to the Post-Standard.
Matthew Sindoni Jr. allowed three courthouse custodians to leave work early, used their swipe cards to clock them out of work later and used his own card to indicate he was supervising work that was not being done, the story stated.
Sindoni's attorney questioned the strict ruling that his client ended up with a felony conviction because of "15 hours of comp time," the story noted.
State Supreme Court Justice John Brunetti is also asking that Sindoni serve jail time and pay $354 in restitution for his actions, the story added.
According to the story, the three co-defendants, James Racona, Jerome Bowens and Louis Hill, plead guilty to misdemeanor falsifying business records charges and have been sentenced to one-year conditional discharges.
Click here to read the complete article.
Matthew Sindoni Jr. allowed three courthouse custodians to leave work early, used their swipe cards to clock them out of work later and used his own card to indicate he was supervising work that was not being done, the story stated.
Sindoni's attorney questioned the strict ruling that his client ended up with a felony conviction because of "15 hours of comp time," the story noted.
State Supreme Court Justice John Brunetti is also asking that Sindoni serve jail time and pay $354 in restitution for his actions, the story added.
According to the story, the three co-defendants, James Racona, Jerome Bowens and Louis Hill, plead guilty to misdemeanor falsifying business records charges and have been sentenced to one-year conditional discharges.
Click here to read the complete article.
LEED v3 launches today
WASHINGTON — Monday, April 27, 2009, is the first day for the third version of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification, according to GreentechMedia.com.
This updated version, LEED v3, incorporates many new sustainable aspects, including Regional Priority Credits that are awarded by maximizing energy efficiency by taking advantage of regional resources such as solar, water and wind energy, the story stated.
LEED v3 will more heavily weigh strategies that will have greater positive impacts on energy efficiency and CO2 reductions, the story noted.
LEED-certified buildings are up to 40 percent more energy efficient across a range of categories than comparable non-LEED buildings, the story added.
Click here to read the complete article.
This updated version, LEED v3, incorporates many new sustainable aspects, including Regional Priority Credits that are awarded by maximizing energy efficiency by taking advantage of regional resources such as solar, water and wind energy, the story stated.
LEED v3 will more heavily weigh strategies that will have greater positive impacts on energy efficiency and CO2 reductions, the story noted.
LEED-certified buildings are up to 40 percent more energy efficient across a range of categories than comparable non-LEED buildings, the story added.
Click here to read the complete article.
Swine flu tears through school
FRESH MEADOWS, NY — Saint Francis Preparatory School will be closed today and tomorrow as eight students are confirmed and more than 100 more are suspected of being infected with the potentially lethal swine flu, according to Newsday.
Last week, the nurses office at Saint Francis was overwhelmed with students complaining of fever, nausea, sore throats and achy bones, the story stated.
According to the story, many of those infected had recently visited Mexico for spring break or have had close contact with someone who recently returned.
Cleaning crews spent the weekend cleaning the entire school and scrubbing many high-touch surfaces, the story noted.
Several schools in Texas, California and Ohio also closed after students were found or suspected to have the swine flu that is responsible for more than 100 deaths in Mexico, the story added.
Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano declared a national public health emergency on Sunday to help federal and local agencies prepare for the possibility of more swine flu cases.
Click here to read the complete article.
Last week, the nurses office at Saint Francis was overwhelmed with students complaining of fever, nausea, sore throats and achy bones, the story stated.
According to the story, many of those infected had recently visited Mexico for spring break or have had close contact with someone who recently returned.
Cleaning crews spent the weekend cleaning the entire school and scrubbing many high-touch surfaces, the story noted.
Several schools in Texas, California and Ohio also closed after students were found or suspected to have the swine flu that is responsible for more than 100 deaths in Mexico, the story added.
Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano declared a national public health emergency on Sunday to help federal and local agencies prepare for the possibility of more swine flu cases.
Click here to read the complete article.
Norovirus prompts facility quarantine
WHITEHORSE, YK, Canada — MacAulay Lodge, an extended care facility, has been put under quarantine by Yukon health officials following an outbreak of norovirus, a highly contagious gastrointestinal infection whose eradication requires extensive cleaning of surfaces, according to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.
So far, 31 individuals have been sickened, including 19 residents and 12 staff members, the story stated.
Group activities have been suspended and confirmed infected residents are being confined to their rooms until their symptoms subside, the story noted.
The quarantine of MacAulay Lodge will remain in effect until all residents no longer show symptoms of the virus for at least two days, as the virus is still contagious for up to 48 hours after symptoms clear up, the story added.
Click here to read the complete article.
So far, 31 individuals have been sickened, including 19 residents and 12 staff members, the story stated.
Group activities have been suspended and confirmed infected residents are being confined to their rooms until their symptoms subside, the story noted.
The quarantine of MacAulay Lodge will remain in effect until all residents no longer show symptoms of the virus for at least two days, as the virus is still contagious for up to 48 hours after symptoms clear up, the story added.
Click here to read the complete article.
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