Cal/OSHA Cautions Employers to Avoid Using Non-Conforming Steam Boilers
Cal/OSHA Cautions Employers to Avoid Using Non-Conforming Steam Boilers
OAKLAND, Calif., March 18, 2015 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Cal/OSHA is reminding employers to avoid steam boilers that do not meet safety standards. Steam boilers are used for industrial applications including medical sterilization or parts cleaning.
“Employers are required to prevent potential hazards to workers, and using equipment that meets required safety standards is essential,” said Christine Baker, Director of the Department of Industrial Relations (DIR). Cal/OSHA, formally known as the Division of Occupational Safety and Health, is a division of DIR.
Failures occur when thinning, cracking, scale build-up, poor design, or insufficient water can no longer contain the boiler pressure or when unburned fuel unexpectedly ignites. Defective operational controls that maintain appropriate pressure, water level, and burner fuel flow can also cause the vessel to explode if not properly used and maintained. These hazards can cause severe injury or death to employees resulting from furnace explosions or over-pressure steam release.
“Cal/OSHA has specific regulations relating to equipment’s design and construction, inspection, and operation,” said Cal/OSHA Chief Juliann Sum. “Using steam boilers that are not up to code can cause an over-pressurized release of steam or an explosion. This poses a serious risk to workers.”
Since 1917 ASME has been the international standard for the safe building and operation of boilers which are commonly utilized in wineries and other facilities to sterilize equipment. All steam boilers are required to meet the ASME Section I Power Boiler Code regarding construction, engineering, testing and installation of safety controls for such vessels. Larger boilers may require a Cal/OSHA permit to operate and only by a knowledgeable attendant familiar with such equipment.
Failure to comply with the workplace health and safety requirements can constitute a misdemeanor or felony under California Labor Code sections 7750, 7770 and 7771.
Cal/OSHA’s Pressure Vessel Unit is responsible under Labor Code section 7620 et seq. for the inspection of boilers and tanks. A letter addressing the required usage of ASME-certified boilers has been sent to California employers and is also available on DIR’s website.
Cal/OSHA helps protect workers from health and safety hazards on the job in almost every workplace in California. Cal/OSHA’s Consultation Service provides free and voluntary assistance to employers and employee organizations to improve their health and safety programs. Employers should call (800) 963-9424 for assistance from the Cal/OSHA Consultation Program.
For media inquiries contact Erika Monterroza at (510) 286-1164 or Peter Melton at (510) 286-7046.
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 non-media inquiries, contact DIR’s Communications Call Center at 1-844-LABOR-DIR (1-844-522-6734) for help in locating the appropriate division or program in our department.
Emergency Ban on Powdered Alcohol in California Requested
Emergency Ban on Powdered Alcohol in California Requested
Alcohol Justice Predicts Huge Dangers to Young People
SAN FRANCISCO, March 18, 2015 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — In a letter delivered today to every member of the California State legislature, and the Secretary of State, Alcohol Justice is asking for an emergency ban in California on the sale of powdered and crystalline alcohol products, such as Palcohol, to prevent additional alcohol-related harm to young people.
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“California is the largest alcohol market in the U.S. and suffers the most alcohol-related harm,” stated Michael Scippa, Director of Public Affairs at Alcohol Justice. “Every year we lose nearly 10,000 lives and over $22 billion dollars to alcohol-related harm. Palcohol and other powdered or crystalline alcohol products will bring huge dangers to young people in California.
The letter provides a chilling litany of health and safety concerns associated with powdered or crystalline alcohol: low cost; easy youth access to the packets; similar size and shape of packets to nonalcoholic children’s drink packets; potential mixing with a small amount of water to make a single very potent drink; mixing powdered alcohol with beer or alcopops; mixing powdered alcohol with energy drinks or other youth-oriented products; concealment by underage drinkers attending events/locations where alcohol is prohibited; ingestion of the product by snorting or eating, and easy theft.
The Alcohol Justice request for emergency legislative action is a response to news late last week that the U.S. Alcohol & Tobacco Tax & Trade Bureau (TTB) approved labels for the powdered alcohol product, Palcohol. The TTB approval gives a green light to begin marketing it wherever it’s legal. The letter states that five states have already passed legislation to ban powdered and crystalline alcohol products, another has a regulatory prohibition in place, and at least 14 other states are considering bills to ban these dangerous products. But California is currently not yet one of those states considering a bill.
The letter asks for new emergency legislation in 2015, to amend Title 18 of the California Code of Regulations, Article 6, Classification of Particular Beverages, Regulation 2557, concerning Powdered Distilled Spirits. The amendment sought would ban powdered or crystalline distilled spirits in California.
“We agree with New York Senator Chuck Schumer who said Palcohol “will become the ‘Kool-Aid’ of teenage binge drinking’ and it will lead to acute alcohol poisoning and death,” said Bruce Lee Livingston, Executive Director / CEO of Alcohol Justice. “The sense of urgency is real, we need our elected state leaders to take action this year to keep this public health and safety threat out of California.”
For more information: www.alcoholjustice.org lead story.
Contact: Michael Scippa 415 548-0492
Jorge Castillo 213 840-3336
Help Protect Texas’ Babies: Make sure your children are fully vaccinated
Help Protect Texas’ Babies: Make sure your children are fully vaccinated
NEW YORK, March 18, 2015 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — A new bilingual, online resource is now available for parents to learn more about the ways they can help keep their children up-to-date on the vaccines recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Outbreaks of serious, vaccine-preventable infectious diseases, like measles, whooping cough, chickenpox and invasive pneumococcal disease can threaten the health of our children. What’s more, unvaccinated babies and children under two years old are more vulnerable to these dangerous – even deadly – illnesses. Still there are many infants and children in Texas who don’t receive all the CDC-recommended vaccines that can help protect them.
This online resource offers simple, well-organized, user-friendly tools, including a consumer brochure, a direct link to the CDC’s recommended vaccine schedule and a downloadable vaccine tracker.
County-specific resources for Texas residents also are available – including a list of vaccine providers that can accommodate busy schedules.
To view the multimedia assets associated with this release, please click: LocalVaccinesForBabies.com
NESTLÉ® LA LECHERA® Celebrates International Day Of Happiness
NESTLÉ® LA LECHERA® Celebrates International Day Of Happiness
Celebrity Mom and Certified Master Life Coach Laura Posada to Share Happiness Tips
GLENDALE, Calif., March 18, 2015 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — March 20 commemorates International Day of Happiness, a celebration instituted by the United Nations to further the idea that happiness is a fundamental human right and everyone deserves the chance at a happy, healthy life. Since 2012, NESTLÉ® LA LECHERA® Sweetened Condensed Milk has brought this belief to life through “Recipes for Happiness,” a campaign to inspire consumers to make desserts that lead to moments of happiness for themselves and their families.
This year, NESTLÉ® LA LECHERA® is celebrating International Day of Happiness by partnering with certified master life coach and celebrity mom Laura Posada to share advice on how women can achieve happiness for themselves and their families.
1. Be your number one fan and love yourself no matter what
For other people to start appreciating you, you have to value and appreciate yourself first. Once you discover how much you’re worth everyone else will see it.
2. Forgive and move on, leave the past behind
Holding grudges and resentment holds you back from achieving happiness. You can’t change the things that happened in your life, but you can decide how you interpret and respond to them. Don’t cling to negative feelings, you need to let go in order to move forward.
3. Be in control of your mind! Remind yourself every day you are strong and stay positive
A positive attitude and mindset attracts success. Reinforce positive thoughts and behaviors and don’t focus on the negative. Tell yourself you are doing a great job at work, raising your children or whatever you do. Appreciate your hard work and remind yourself you can achieve anything you want.
4. Stop thinking and start doing, lose fear
See challenges as stepping stones to overcome your fears and obstacles. Many times we don’t do the things we want because of fear of failing. Understand that failing is learning and an opportunity to improve and do better next time.
5. Appreciate the journey and enjoy life. Choose happiness, you deserve it
In order to find happiness you have to find balance in your life, find time for yourself and discover what fulfills you. Those who believe don’t deserve happiness will sabotage their own efforts to achieve it. Remind yourself every day the steps you need to take to achieve the happiness you deserve.
“The pursuit of happiness is an ongoing human goal and moms, particularly, are at the core of providing happiness and well-being for their families,” said Priscila Stanton, Marketing Manager for La Lechera at Nestlé USA. “At Nestlé, we understand the role that desserts play in making loved ones smile, and La Lechera has been bringing happy moments throughout the brand’s history. We hope to inspire many moms to share a sweet treat with their family on this special day.”
Nestlé La Lechera and Laura Posada encourage consumers to join the conversation on Friday March 20, International Day of Happiness, by sharing their favorite La Lechera recipe using #CreateHappiness. Below is Laura Posada’s favorite La Lechera Cookie Bars recipe used to inspire happiness. For more recipes, visit ElMejorNido.com.
Recipe:
La Lechera Cookie Bars
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine
- 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
- 1 can (14 oz.) NESTLÉ® La Lechera® Sweetened Condensed Milk
- 2 cups (12-oz. pkg.) NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels
- 1 cup flaked coconut
- 1 cup chopped walnuts
Instructions
PREHEAT oven to 350° F.
MELT butter in 13 x 9-inch baking pan in oven; remove from oven. Sprinkle graham cracker crumbs over butter. Stir well; press onto bottom of pan. Pour La Lechera sweetened condensed milk evenly over crumbs. Sprinkle with morsels, coconut and nuts; press down firmly.
BAKE for 25 to 30 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool completely in pan on wire rack. Cut into bars.
About NESTLÉ® LA LECHERA®
NESTLÉ® LA LECHERA® is the #1 Sweetened Condensed Milk brand in the world and has been a key ingredient for delicious desserts since 1921. In the U.S.A., NESTLÉ® LA LECHERA® offers a wide portfolio of products, including NESTLÉ® LA LECHERA® Sweetened Condensed Milk can and squeeze bottle, NESTLÉ® LA LECHERA® Dulce de Leche can and squeeze bottle, NESTLÉ® LA LECHERA Fat Free can, NESTLÉ® LA LECHERA® Baking Kits and other better for you products. NESTLÉ® LA LECHERA® is the key ingredient and topping for a wide range of dessert favorites such as Flan, Cheesecake, and Fruit Parfait. By adding the creamy sweetness of NESTLÉ® LA LECHERA® to your favorite desserts and drinks, you will bring sweet smiles to your family. For product information and news, visit LaLechera.com or Facebook.com/LaLechera.
About Laura Posada
Laura Posada is a mom, an attorney, a certified master coach, a certified personal trainer, a family health and fitness activist, a TV personality and a philanthropic icon. A modern day “super-woman,” Laura co-produced and hosted 2 seasons of Manual de Supervivencia con Laura Posada (Survival Guide with Laura Posada) for FOX TV Studios. She appears regularly on the TODAY show in NBC to give coaching tips and makes regular appearances at Univision’s Despierta America as a lifestyle expert. An award-winning book author, Laura has published two books, the first one named Fit Home Team, which was released in 2009 where Laura illustrates the triumph of raising a healthy and fit family in the modern world. In September 2010, she released her second book, The Beauty of Love: A Memoir of Miracles, Hope, and Healing, where she shares her family’s deeply moving, memorable, and uplifting story following the diagnosis of their firstborn son – Jorge Luis Jr. – with a life-threatening skull deformation ten days after his birth. Laura is currently working on her third book titled La Dieta Mental: Tu Clave Para Ser Feliz, to be released this summer. She also co-founded The Jorge Posada Foundation and is an active Board member of the myFace Foundation. To learn more, please visit www.lauraposada.com.
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Premera Blue Cross Announces Cyberattack, Offers Protection For Affected Individuals
Premera Blue Cross Announces Cyberattack, Offers Protection For Affected Individuals
MOUNTLAKE TERRACE, Wash., March 17, 2015 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Today, Premera Blue Cross (“Premera”) announced the organization has been the target of a cyberattack.
On January 29, 2015, Premera discovered that cyberattackers had executed a sophisticated attack to gain unauthorized access to its Information Technology (IT) systems. Premera’s investigation further revealed that the initial attack occurred on May 5, 2014. As part of its investigation, Premera notified the FBI and is coordinating with the Bureau’s investigation into this attack. Premera also worked closely with Mandiant, one of the world’s leading cybersecurity firms, to conduct a comprehensive investigation of the incident and to remove the infection created by the attack.
“The security of Premera’s members’ personal information remains a top priority. We at Premera take this issue seriously and sincerely regret the concern it may cause,” said Jeff Roe, Chief Executive Officer, Premera. “As much as possible, we want to make this event our burden, not that of the affected individuals, by making services available today to help protect people’s information.”
This incident affected Premera Blue Cross, Premera Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alaska, and its affiliate brands Vivacity and Connexion Insurance Solutions, Inc. Premera’s investigation determined that the attackers may have gained unauthorized access to members’ information, which could include members’ name, date of birth, Social Security number, mailing address, email address, telephone number, member identification number, bank account information, and claims information, including clinical information. Individuals who do business with Premera and provided the company with their email address, personal bank account number, or Social Security number are also affected.
The investigation has not determined that any such data was removed from Premera’s systems. Premera also has no evidence to date that such data has been used inappropriately.
Premera is beginning to mail letters to approximately 11 million affected individuals today and is providing two years of free credit monitoring and identity theft protection services to those individuals. Premera also has established a dedicated call center for its members and other affected individuals. More information can be found at: www.premeraupdate.com. The information involved in this incident dates back to 2002 and individuals who believe they are affected by this cyberattack but who have not received a letter by April 20, 2015, are encouraged to call the number listed at that website.
Along with steps taken to cleanse its IT system of issues raised by this cyberattack, Premera is taking additional actions to strengthen and enhance the security of its IT systems moving forward.
Additional information about Premera’s response to this cyberattack can be found at www.premeraupdate.com.
About Premera Blue Cross
Premera Blue Cross is a health plan in the Pacific Northwest, providing comprehensive health benefits and tailored services to over 1.8 million people. Premera Blue Cross is a member of a family of companies based in Mountlake Terrace, Wash., providing health, life, vision, dental, stop-loss, disability, workforce wellness and other related products and services. Premera Blue Cross is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association.
Contact:
Melanie Coon
Senior Communications Manager, Media Relations
[email protected]
(425) 918-6238
Go West, young company; ConnXus opens West Coast office
Go West, young company; ConnXus opens West Coast office
CINCINNATI and PORTLAND, Oregon, March 17, 2015 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Nearly five years after embarking on a high-tech journey to help diversify corporate supply chains, ConnXus is expanding west, with a new satellite office in Portland, Oregon.
Product Services Manager Tim Scruta will manage the supplier diversity procurement software company’s new office, which opened last week.
“Over the past 5 years, we have truly listened to our customers and recently constructed state of the art software to help support supplier diversity through simplistic reporting and searching for qualified minority vendors. This expansion will not only increase visibility for minority vendors, but also to large organizations who have previously utilized tenacious methods to track their diversity spend,” Tim says.
This expansion follows increased customer demand for innovative solutions in the supplier diversity space. Globally, corporations are looking for innovative, diverse suppliers who are flexible, nimble and able to meet the demands of more diverse consumer base.
Supplier Diversity Facts:
- By 2050, Minorities will account for 1 in 2 of every American, according to the U.S. Census bureau.
- Between 1997 and 2014, when the number of businesses in the United States increased by 47%, the number of women-owned firms increased by 68% – a rate 1-1/2 times the national average, according to 2014 State of Women-Owned Businesses report.
- The number of African American owned firms increased by 61 percent between 2002 and 2007 to 1.9 million firms, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2007 Survey of Business Owners.
ConnXus West Coast
Existing ConnXus clients in California, Oregon and Washington can expect more robust, diverse networking opportunities.
“This expansion will create more opportunities to interact with existing West Coast clients and build relationships with potential new clients,” CEO and founder of ConnXus Rod Robinson says.
The ConnXus’ database of 1.6 million small, minority and women-owned businesses will continue to grow through this development. A huge milestone for the young company, this nationwide growth proves to show the success of what a dedicated start-up team can evolve into.
As ConnXus continues to develop their national and global footprint, COO Daryl Hammett says, “Tapping into the tech and innovative companies in the Western Frontier will allow ConnXus to be on the cutting edge of a new supplier diversity frontier.”
About ConnXus
Headquartered in Mason, Ohio, ConnXus helps grow small, woman- and minority-owned businesses by connecting them to Fortune 2000 corporations seeking a competitive edge through supplier diversity. Our membership-driven platform champions quality buyer and supplier relationships through bid, marketing and direct communication opportunities. Connect with ConnXus via Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube and Instagram.