Environmental, Health and Safety News

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) and Public Health Madison & Dane County announced today that two additional people have contracted COVID-19 . Both had contact with the confirmed case reported earlier this week. Both patients are isolated at home. “This brings the total of confirmed cases to seven in just one week....
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The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS), Fond du Lac County Health Department, and Waukesha County Public Health Department announced today that a fourth, fifth, and sixth person have tested positive for COVID-19 in our state. The Waukesha County patient was exposed while traveling in the United States and internationally, and is currently isolated...
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The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) and Public Health Madison and Dane County announced today that a third person has tested positive for COVID-19 . The person was exposed while traveling in the United States and is currently isolated at home. County health officials are working to determine the people who have been...
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The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) and the Pierce County Public Health Department announced today that a second person has tested positive for COVID-19 . The person was exposed while traveling within the U.S. and is currently isolated at home. County health officials are working to determine people who have been in contact...
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The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) is urging people who are planning trips and returning travelers to pay attention to guidance for travel provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to avoid catching or spreading COVID-19 (2019 Novel Coronavirus). “The reality is that we really have to carefully consider our...
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Boston, 25 February, 2020 The Pistoia Alliance, a global, not-for-profit alliance that works to lower barriers to innovation in life sciences R&D, today released the latest Unified Data Model (UDM) file format, Version 6, supported by funding from Biovia, Elsevier, GSK, Novartis, and Roche (recently joined by BMS). V6 delivers a stable foundation for...
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The foremost concern of IHMM and HMS is with the safety and health of all of us; our staff, colleagues, certificants and members and those in our communities. As we have been doing the past three weeks, we continue to share credible, authoritative information for you in meeting the threat posed by the COVID-19...
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Description of System: In 2010, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) initiated the National Toxic Substance Incidents Program (NTSIP), and it was retired in 2014. Nine state health departments participated in NTSIP surveillance: California, Louisiana, North Carolina, New York, Missouri, Oregon, Tennessee, Utah, and Wisconsin. The states conducted surveillance on acute...
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The American Chemistry Council’s outside group of public health advisors, the Water Quality & Health Council, has worked with several other public health partners to develop a user-friendly “pictogram” poster for disinfecting frequently touched surfaces against the COVID-19 virus. Also includes Pictograms for: COVID-19 Surface Cleaning and Disinfection Childcare Environment Disinfection and Sanitization Food...
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Waiver or Modification of Requirements under Section 1135 of the Social Security Act as the Result of the Consequences of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) What: HHS Secretary Alex M. Azar declared a public health emergency, effective March 15, 2019, at 6:00 p.m. due to the nationwide COVID-19 outbreak. Where:  Nationwide. Why:  President Donald...
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OSHA’s Temporary Enforcement Guidance – Healthcare Respiratory Protection Annual Fit-Testing for N95 Filtering Facepieces During the COVID-19 Outbreak, is very important – among other things, OSHA says to perform an initial fit test using a qualitative method, to suspend annual fit-testing requirements during the pandemic, but to perform user seal checks when the respirator...
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Latest Covid-19 Advice and guidance: For doctors: here: https://www.bmj.com/content/368/bmj.m978 FOM / NHS Health at Work: here https://www.nhshealthatwork.co.uk/images/library/files/FOM_and_NHS_H@W_Covid_guidance_FINAL_12032020.pdf For nurses here: https://www.rcn.org.uk/covid-19 HR (via CIPD):   https://www.cipd.co.uk/news-views/coronavirus Getting workplace health COVID ready – https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/getting-workplace-ready-for-covid-19.pdf Notes below from a WHO webinar 11th March on “EPI-WIN COVID-19 Employers and employees” s (recording and slides will be available...
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Getting Your “Food” in the Door: Strategies to Engage Food and Beverage Manufacturers in Pollution Prevention Technical Assistance Date & Time:  March 24, 1:00 – 2:30 PM ET Details & Free Registration: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/2616299318147436555 Food and beverage manufacturers have real opportunities to save money and reduce pollution through pollution prevention (P2). But many Pollution Prevention...
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CCOHS- The identification of 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) in China in late 2019 has highlighted the need for workplaces in Canada to follow good practices to minimize the potential for infection. Coronaviruses are a large family of common viruses that are typically associated with mild illnesses. However, novel strains can develop into serious diseases,...
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CCOHS- The XXII World Congress on Safety and Health at Work, taking place October 4-7, 2020 in Toronto, Canada, is offering a fellowship program to help support occupational safety and health professionals from developing countries in attending the global prevention event. Successful program applicants will receive funding for the costs of travel to the...
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On Feb. 18, the European Commission published a regulation classifying titanium dioxide (TiO2) containing greater than 1% respirable dust content by inhalation as a Category 2 Carcinogen. This action follows the fall decision by CARACAL— the expert group that advises the European Commission and European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) on questions related to REACH and...
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Are you looking for an outstanding 1 credit summer class that addresses military exposures, veterans health, and service-linked policies?  This course is ideal for you!  It is designed to appeal to students from many disciplines, including those from *outside* of GWU.  We can certainly accommodate students wishing to participate online. Summer II 2020 –...
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U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced $74 million for 63 selected projects to research, develop, and test energy-efficient and flexible building technologies, systems, and construction practices to improve the energy performance of our Nation’s buildings and electric grid. Awardees include National Laboratories, universities, small businesses, and industry partners. America’s 125 million residential and commercial buildings use...
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U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced approximately $187 million in funding, including $48 million of cost share, for 55 projects in 25 states to support innovative advanced manufacturing research and development. These projects address high-impact manufacturing technology, materials, and process challenges that advance the Trump Administration’s goal to strengthen domestic manufacturing competitiveness and position...
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(Brian Wang) A new study shows the coronavirus ncov 2019 has a median incubation period was 3.0 days but the range is 0 to 24.0 days. This would mean that quarantines need to be 6 weeks long instead of 3 weeks. Clinical characteristics of 2019 novel coronavirus infection in China Lancet has published a...
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(FET) EPA Names new Administrator for Region 5 Kurt Thiede of Wisconsin has been named regional administrator for EPA Region 5, overseeing environmental protection efforts in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio. He comes to this role with extensive experience promoting and protecting the environmental health of the Great Lakes region. He is an 18year veteran of WDNR, and previously spent four years as the administrator for the Land Division.  He has a Bachelor of Science degree in wildlife management and biology from the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point, and in 2016 he received an outstanding alumnus award from their school of natural resources. Read more about Mr. Thiede at EPA: https://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/about-administrator-epas-region-5-office-chicago
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(DOE) the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced up to $18.8 million toward the research and development (R&D) of innovative subsurface geothermal technologies. DOE’s Geothermal Technologies Office (GTO) will fund up to six projects focused on two topic areas: Topic 1: Exploration RD&D: Hidden Geothermal Systems in the Basin and Range; and Topic 2:...
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On April 25, 2019, a farm tractor towing two 2-ton ammonia tanks on a county road in Lake County, Illinois, experienced a mechanical failure that resulted in the release of anhydrous ammonia, a colorless, pungent, irritating gas that can cause severe respiratory and ocular damage (1). Approximately 80% of anhydrous ammonia produced in the...
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(CCOHS) Working with machinery puts workers at risk. Safeguarding is the essential first line of defense against potentially serious injuries caused by machine operation. Understand how safeguards can protect you and reduce the risk of injury. Many machines found on shop floors and in factories have moving parts that rotate, reciprocate, punch, slide, grind,...
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Every day millions head out to work, maybe not fully aware that in their job or place of work, they are being exposed to cancer-causing substances. These carcinogens can be viruses, chemicals, naturally occurring minerals, or solar radiation. Recent statistics from the World Health Organization show that cancer kills an estimated 9.6 million people...
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EPA has posted an updated set of questions and answers pertaining to its Great Lakes Trash Free Waters RFA. On Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2020 GLNPO held an informational webinar on the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Trash Free Waters Request for Applications (RFA). During the webinar, the EPA team shared key information about the RFA’s...
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(CDC) In a recent article in Public Health Reports, the U.S. Surgeon General, Vice Admiral (VADM) Jerome Adams, MD, MPH, recognizes the important relationship between employment and health. The article, “The Value of Worker Well-being,” also highlights the efforts of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), the NIOSH Office of Total...
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The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) announced today testing is in process for five people for the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) in our state. Results are pending in these cases. Test results for an additional patient under investigation were negative. “DHS is actively monitoring this outbreak and working with our local, state, and...
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Compiled what follows from a Series of Thirteen Tweets by physician (MD) and scientist (PhD) Dr. Dena Grayson. Emphasis is mine. Dr. Dena Grayson: Having YEARS of experience developing an Ebola treatment, I was concerned about this Coronavirus Outbreak from the outset, because this coronavirus strain is very contagious, causes severe illness, and NO treatments or vaccines are...
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CDC is closely monitoring an outbreak of respiratory illness caused by a novel (new) coronavirus (termed “2019-nCoV”) that was first detected in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China and which continues to expand. Chinese health officials have reported more than a thousand infections with 2019-nCoV in China, including outside of Hubei Province. Infections with 2019-nCoV...
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Hello, On January 30th, Nimonik is hosting a Free Online Comprehensive Compliance Workshop. To benchmark your compliance efforts in 2020, here are 5 powerful questions to ask your teams: Do you understand your compliance obligations? Does your team have the competence to stay in compliance? Are there controls in place to meet your compliance...
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The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) today announced our state has seen 459 hospitalizations for influenza this season, more than three times as many than at this time last year. Admissions to intensive care units for respiratory illnesses are also on the rise. And already, 11 Wisconsinites have died due to complications from...
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The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) received notification from Care Wisconsin and My Choice Family Care managed care organizations (MCOs) of their intent to merge into one entity effective January 1, 2020. Both entities provide services within Wisconsin’s Family Care program in Dane county. Family Care is a Wisconsin long-term care program operating...
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The post DataFAIRy appeared first on Pistoia Alliance.
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Dear members, friends and colleagues,   We’d like to take this opportunity to wish you a peaceful and happy holiday season and a prosperous 2020.   From all at the operations team:   Steve Arlington Martyn Wilkins Ashley George Beeta Balali-Mood Roger Frechette Nick Lynch David Proudlock Tanya Randall Zahid Tharia John Wise  ...
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The SEED (Semantic Enrichment of ELN Data) Project is pleased to announce its official “start-up” January 2020. Following the recent presentation at the Pistoia Alliance conference in Boston by Steve Penn ( Pfizer), there is a high level of interest in the project and this has been confirmed by offers of funding that enable...
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The goal of the Unified Data Model (UDM) project is to create and publish an open, extendable and freely available data format for the exchange of experimental information about compound synthesis and their testing.   The UDM project are pleased to announce the release of Version  6.0 in January 2020. This will be the...
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BEIJING, China – There are currently eleven nuclear power units under construction in China, the largest number of nuclear power facilities under construction in the world. The country has 47 nuclear power units already in operation, the third highest across the globe, accoding to a report by The People’s Daily. The Chinese government made the decision...
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The 2020 PFAS Seminar that will bring together renowned industry leaders with knowledge on remediating PFAS contaminants in surface water, groundwater, drinking water, wastewater/bio solids, and recycled water.  Learn what’s working now!  Keynote SpeakerMike Abraczinskas, DirectorNorth Carolina Department of Environmental QualityDivision of Air QualityPresenting:  Emerging Compounds from an Air Perspective – A Case Study...
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JAMA: Importance  Higher rates of infertility and pregnancy complications have been found for female surgeons compared with the general population. Several reproductive hazards are present in the operating room and may be associated with these findings. Hazards should be identified and controlled to minimize risks. Observations:  Studies comparing surgeons with the general population show...
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Water Department Manager in Milwaukee to help their company grow. What You Will Be Doing Implement Corporate Strategic Plan Create Business Unit Plan (BUP) to direct development of staff and products Recognize staffing needs, assist with hiring Assist Marketing in preparation of Proposals: project plan and approach, staff assignments, fee development and risk assessment...
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The American Lung Association’s 19th annual “state of the air” report found that 134 million Americans – more than 41% – lived in counties with unhealthy levels of either ozone or particulate pollution in 2014-2016. In a country with over 270 million vehicles, America’s air suffers from tailpipe pollution. Health impacts of air pollution...
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The open source journal PLOSOne had a recent article of potential interest to the P2 community. The researchers used TRI data to determine the extent to which adoption of P2 practices reduces pollution substitution. They found that adoption of P2 techniques reduces toxic air and water releases equally, but it is associated with increases...
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The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) announced today that the nationally-recognized Family Care program has been approved to continue for five more years. Family Care allows frail elders and adults with physical, developmental, or intellectual disabilities to remain in their homes or communities whenever possible. The approval comes from the Centers for Medicare...
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As part of the ongoing investigation into the multistate outbreak of Escherichia coli O157:H7 ( E. coli O157) infections, Wisconsin health and food safety officials have found E. coli O157:H7 bacteria in an unopened bag of pre-washed chopped romaine collected from an ill person’s home. Additional laboratory testing is pending to determine if the...
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