SANTA ANA, California, July 31, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Cal/OSHA has cited an aircraft parts manufacturer $87,500 for numerous workplace safety and health violations including failure to provide workers with effective training on hazardous chemicals in their work area and willful failure to notify workers of their exposure to hexavalent chromium, a hazardous chemical known to cause cancer commonly referred to as chromium-6.

Cal/OSHA’s Santa Ana Office on January 20 inspected the Triumph Processing – Embee Division, Inc. plant in Santa Ana after receiving a complaint of workplace hazards. Inspectors found that the employer had previously determined through air monitoring that workers who sanded and spray-painted aircraft parts were exposed to high levels of chromium-6, in the form of dust and mist.

Cal/OSHA issued a willful regulatory violation to the employer for not posting or notifying affected workers of the air monitoring results, and for failing to advise the workers of how they would be protected from exposure.

“Triumph Processing knew its workers had been exposed to high levels of chromium-6 at their facility but failed to notify or effectively train them,” said Cal/OSHA Chief Juliann Sum.

Chromium-6 is a toxic form of the element chromium used in many different industries. It is a known carcinogen and can cause irritation and damage to both the respiratory system when inhaled, and to the eyes and skin upon contact.

Cal/OSHA issued a total of 23 violations, including one willful-regulatory, six serious, six general and 10 regulatory in nature. A willful violation is issued where evidence shows that the employer committed an intentional and knowing violation, and the employer was conscious of the fact that what it was doing constituted a violation, or was aware that a hazardous condition existed and made no reasonable effort to eliminate the hazard. A serious violation is cited when there was a realistic possibility that death or serious physical harm could result from the actual hazardous condition.

Cal/OSHA helps protect workers from health and safety hazards on the job in almost every workplace in California. Employers and workers who have questions or need assistance with workplace health and safety programs can call Cal/OSHA’s Consultation Services Branch at 800-963-9424.

Complaints about workplace safety and health hazards can be filed confidentially with Cal/OSHA district offices. Employees with work-related questions or complaints may contact DIR’s Call Center in English or Spanish at 844-LABOR-DIR (844-522-6734).

Members of the press may contact Erika Monterroza or Peter Melton at (510) 286-1161, and are encouraged to subscribe to get email alerts on DIR’s press releases or other departmental updates.

https://www.facebook.com/CaliforniaDIR  
https://twitter.com/CA_DIR  
http://www.youtube.com/CaliforniaDIR  
http://www.dir.ca.gov/email/listsub.asp?choice=1

The California Department of Industrial Relations, established in 1927, protects and improves the health, safety, and economic well-being of over 18 million wage earners, and helps their employers comply with state labor laws. DIR is housed within the Labor & Workforce Development Agency. For general inquiries, contact DIR’s Communications Call Center at 844-LABOR-DIR (844-522-6734) for help in locating the appropriate division or program in our department.

SOURCE California Department of Industrial Relations, Cal/OSHA

LEAWOOD, Kansas, Aug. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Each year as summer begins to wind down, children prepare to go back to school. For many, that means getting a back-to-school haircut, shopping for some new clothes, and gathering school supplies. One thing that shouldn’t be missed: checking in with your family physician to make sure school-age children are up to date on all required vaccinations.

During August—which is National Immunization Awareness Month—family physicians are reminding parents that vaccines keep your own child healthy and provide protections for children whose health conditions prevent them from getting vaccines. “It’s critical to make sure that you and your children receive vaccinations according to the immunization schedule recommended by the Centers for Disease Control,” said John Meigs, Jr., MD, president of the American Academy of Family Physicians. “Becoming immunized is important not only for school-age children, but for babies and young children, pregnant women, teens and pre-teens, and adults.”

Each year, the AAFP and the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices collaborate to develop recommendations for the routine use of vaccines in children, adolescents and adults in the United States. All states require children to be vaccinated against certain communicable diseases in order to attend school. Information about recommended immunization schedules for people of all ages is available at familydoctor.org. In addition, the AAFP developed an interactive map of vaccine-specific coverage levels for each state.

The CDC lists vaccine recommendations for the prevention of 17 diseases across the lifespan, protecting the health of Americans from birth through old age. Data from the CDC show that vaccines are effective not only in preventing disease, but in lowering the cost of health care spending:

• A 2009 analysis of 13 vaccines given as part of the childhood immunization schedule found that for each birth group vaccinated, the United States saved 42,000 lives, $13.5 billion in direct medical costs, and prevented 20 million cases of disease.
• An estimated $10.20 is saved in societal costs (direct and indirect) for every $1 invested in vaccines for vaccine-preventable diseases.
• Without improvements to the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination rate, 50,000 girls will develop cervical cancer that would be prevented if immunization rates reached 80 percent.
• Seasonal influenza causes more than 200,000 hospitalizations and costs more than $10 billion in direct medical costs in the United States each year.

“Vaccines are proven to be safe and effective, and they save lives,” notes Meigs. “To protect public health, the AAFP strongly recommends that patients receive all necessary vaccinations in their primary care physician’s office. Forgoing immunization is reckless and endangers not only the health of children but the health of the entire public.”

Visit familydoctor.org for patient education resources on specific immunizations.

About the American Academy of Family Physicians
Founded in 1947, the AAFP represents 129,000 physicians and medical students nationwide. It is the only medical society devoted solely to primary care.

Family physicians conduct approximately one in five office visits — that’s 192 million visits annually or 48 percent more than the next most visited medical specialty. Today, family physicians provide more care for America’s underserved and rural populations than any other medical specialty. Family medicine’s cornerstone is an ongoing, personal patient-physician relationship focused on integrated care.

To learn more about the specialty of family medicine, the AAFP’s positions on issues and clinical care, and for downloadable multi-media highlighting family medicine, visit www.aafp.org/media. For information about health care, health conditions and wellness, please visit the AAFP’s award-winning consumer website, www.familydoctor.org.

SOURCE American Academy of Family Physicians