EPA Releases Mercury Documents

EPA Encourages the Use of Mercury-Free Alternatives. EPA has posted a Risk Based Prioritization (RPB) document for mercury (PDF) (7 pp., 67KB, about PDF) under EPA’s Chemical Assessment and Management Program (ChAMP). This preliminary assessment describes uses of elemental mercury in a number of products and concludes that switches, relays, button cell batteries, non-fever thermometers, and measuring devices such as thermostats do not have to contain mercury. Based on this assessment, EPA determined that mercury in these products poses a “high priority, special concern.” The Agency plans to take prompt regulatory and voluntary action to encourage the use of mercury-free alternatives and reduce the use of mercury in products.

• November 2008: EPA has also developed a searchable database of information from various sources to help identify consumer and commercial products that contain mercury and their possible non-mercury alternatives. EPA encourages people to use non-mercury alternatives whenever possible as an important way to prevent exposure to mercury, including exposure due to breakage.

http://www.epa.gov/hg

Recent recalls

The following items of interest have been subject to recent product safety recalls:

Sherwin-Williams Co. Recalls Krylon UV Fabric Protector Due to Respiratory Hazard

PC Notebook Computer Batteries Recalled Due to Fire and Burn Hazard

Homelite Consumer Products Announce Recall to Repair Chain Saws Due to Chain Brake Failure

Power Adapters Used with Notebook Computers Recalled by Battery-Biz Due To Burn Hazard

Portable Generators Recalled by General Power Products Due to Fire Hazard

A complete listing of products listed by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission is available at their website.

Slips, trips and falls campaign

The Bureau of State Risk Management (BSRM) be will starting the Slips, Trips and Falls Reduction Campaign in November. The campaign plan consists of:

• Winter slips and falls poster (pictured at right, planned to be available at the RM Conference in Madison on November 12-13).
• Winter slips and falls webcast (will be shown at the RM Conference at the Safety booth) to be available on the BSRM webpage for agency use. This is scheduled to be available during the week of the conference.
• Safety booth with Slips, Trips and Falls information
• Weekly emails in November regarding Slips and Falls prevention
• Spring webcast on slips, trips and falls.

Safety message for facility services staff

I've been having many discussions lately, both verbal and email, on the topic of management support for occupational safety throughout our system campuses. One recent example of a clear message of management support for safety over expediency comes from the latest newsletter for UW-Milwaukee's Facility Services Department. On page one, director Dave Danielson gives both general support to the safety attitude he wants from his employees, and specifically mentions certain tasks and injury causes for extra attention.

In addition to that safety endorsement, page 4 discusses back safety and makes use of the signage developed by UW-Madison. (Jeff Nytes from UW-Madison presented an overview of their back safety program at our recent campus meeting in September.) Page 5 has a report on campus sustainability issues.

Neil Young on gas guzzlers: Long may you run

Al Saracevic, (San Francisco) Chronicle Staff Writer
Monday, November 3, 2008
(11-02) 21:16 PST -- Leave it to Neil Young to make green technology cool.
The rock legend has created a company called Linc Volt Technology to promote the conversion of existing gas-guzzling cars into vehicles that run on alternative energy. (More...)

Driving while distracted

Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company’s second annual Driving While Distracted survey shows that increased use of technology, along with the societal need to be available at all times, are increasing the frequency and severity of driving while distracted. According to the DWD survey results, even those who practice safe driving admit to doing outlandish things behind the wheel, including changing clothes, balancing a checkbook and shaving.

For a summary and other info on the survey, check out Nationwide's web page.

Hazmat inventory fee increase sought by WEM

Late last week, Wisconsin Emergency Management (WEM) gave notice of intent to develop a request for a fee increase for facilities that store hazardous materials and extremely hazardous substances. No information on the specifics of the fee increase (like, how much more are you going to have to pay?) are available at this time.