In a change not specifically related to public employee health and safety, the Department of Commerce authority for regulation of thermal system insulation installation under s. 101.136, Wis. Stats. was repealed in the recently signed FY2011-13 biennial budget.
Background [http://legis.wisconsin.gov/lfb/2011-13%20Budget/Budget%20Papers/246.pdf]: Under 2009 Act 16, the Department of Commerce was required to regulate the business of installing and maintaining thermal system insulation installation under s. 101.136 of the statutes. Proponents of the legislation said that the legislation established uniform standards for the industry, established licensure and education requirements for persons who install thermal system insulation, and protected consumers from problems that could arise from improper installation of heat and frost insulation such as health threats from mold and mildew. Opponents of the rule suggested regulation of the industry is not needed, the license fee is too high, and the program would be a burden on the industry.
Commerce promulgated administrative rules to establish license and registration fees for thermal system mechanics, apprentices and helpers, but they did not implement the requirements. The Thermal System Insulation Council was not fully appointed (three of seven members were appointed) so there was no quorum, the Council never met to make recommendations to Commerce regarding proposed administrative rules, and Commerce did not hire a thermal system insulation inspector.
In the Executive Budget Book, the Walker administration indicated the program was recommended for deletion because there are no significant safety issues related to the profession of thermal system insulation mechanics, and the licensing requirements presented a significant barrier and cost to individuals entering the profession.
Monday, June 27, 2011
Installation of thermal system insulation
Budget bill and public employee safety regulation
The FY2011-13 biennial budget was passed and signed into law, and as indicated months ago the only change to regulation of public sector safety brought about by statutory changes will be a rebranding of the regulators from the Department of Commerce to the Department of Safety and Professional Services.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
New substances added to HHS Report on Carcinogens
From NIH News
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services today added eight substances to its Report on Carcinogens, a science-based document that identifies chemicals and biological agents that may put people at increased risk for cancer.
The industrial chemical formaldehyde and a botanical known as aristolochic acids are listed as known human carcinogens. Six other substances — captafol, cobalt-tungsten carbide (in powder or hard metal form), certain inhalable glass wool fibers, o-nitrotoluene, riddelliine, and styrene — are added as substances that are reasonably anticipated to be human carcinogens. With these additions, the 12th Report on Carcinogens now includes 240 listings. (More...)
Friday, June 3, 2011
Yale death, PRL fire prompt new machine shop rules
Officials from Stanford’s Department of Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S) met with University leadership Monday to present newly drafted, institution-wide machine shop safety guidelines. The move, a departure from the University’s hands-off policy, was prompted by the April 11 death of a Yale senior Michele Dufault and Saturday’s after-hours fire at the Product Realization Lab (PRL).
Dufault died from accidental asphyxia after her hair caught in a metal lathe. No one was hurt in the PRL fire.
According to EH&S Associate Vice Provost Larry Gibbs, the change aims to create a common safety standard for machine shops across campus and to increase student accountability. (More...)
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