SAFETY RECALLS

• In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), KB Toys, Inc. is voluntarily recalling wooden toys due to violation of lead paint standard. The toys are: Wooden Pull-Along Alphabet & Math Blocks Wagons and Learning Blocks Wagons; 10-in-1 Activity Learning Carts and Flip-Flop Alphabet Blocks. These toys were sold nationwide from August 2005 through August 2007.

• In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Kids II recalls Baby Einstein Blocks due to violation of lead paint standard. The recall involves blue block included with the Baby Einstein Discover & Play Color Blocks, Model 30726 and Model 30881. These were sold at various retailers and specialty stores nationwide from June 2007 through September 2007.

• In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Eveready Battery Co. recalls toy flashlights due to violation of lead paint standard. "Pirates of the Caribbean" Medallion Squeeze Lights contain excessive levels of lead on the surface paints on the leather strap attached to the medallion squeeze light. These were sold at various retail stores and web sites nationwide from September 2006 through October 2007.

• In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Dollar General recalls tumblers due to violation of lead paint standard. About 63,000 Frankenstein Tumblers are being recalled as surface paint on the center of the eyes of some of the cups can contain high levels of lead. The recall includes green, plastic, Frankenstein head-shaped tumblers. These were sold at Dollar General Stores in September 2007.

• In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), CKI recalls children's decorating sets due to violation of lead paint standard. These items were sold exclusively at Toys "R" Us Stores nationwide. The products are "These Totally Me!" -funky room decor sets are designed to make various room decor projects. These items were sold from May 2007 through September 2007.

NEWS ITEMS

ALERT: HAND SANITIZER CONCERNS

There are several internet based e-mails circulating regarding serious alcohol toxicity resulting from exposure to hand sanitizer products predominantly containing ethanol. While it is true that the concentration of ethanol in these gels is equivalent to various strong alcoholic beverages, someone cannot get drunk from casual exposure. For example, licking hands after use is not a problem.

• Community based studies have shown beneficial effects of hand sanitizers. Hand sanitizers were effective in reducing illnesses in households, elementary schools and in university dormitories.
• Expect no toxicity from a taste or a lick of hand sanitizer gel.
• Sanitizer gel should be kept out of the reach of children along with other ethanol containing products such as perfumes and mouthwashes.
• Products containing ethanol/alcohol like sanitizer gel and others can be abused.
• Call your local Poison Control Center for any hand sanitizer ingestion greater than the amount used on your hands.

-Courtesy of the Connecticut Public Health Association and the Connecticut Poison Control Center, University of Connecticut Health Center.

CONTRACTOR LIABILITY

OSHA will no longer be able to cite general contractors for safety violations at construction sites with multiple contractors, under a ruling by the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission (OSHRC No. 03-1622). In vacating a citation issued to a general contractor, OSHRC Chair W. Scott Railton and Commissioner Horace Thompson agreed that OSHA's multiemployer worksite policy is invalid as applied to a "controlling employer" which has neither created the cited safety hazard nor exposed employees to it. - Courtesy of Professional Safety, Journal of American Society of Safety Engineers, July 2007 edition.

WORKER PROTECTIONS

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit has ruled in favor of OSHA and the U.S. Labor Department in a case involving threshold limit values (TLV's). The National Association of Manufacturers and several other industry groups argued that OSHA's recognition of updated TLV's does not involve rulemaking and does not give stakeholders a chance to oppose them. The panel dismissed the lawsuit as untimely.-Courtesy of Professional Safety, Journal of American Society of Safety Engineers, July 2007 edition.

MACHINE SAFETY

OSHA recently issued a revised edition of Safeguarding Equipment and Protecting Employees from Amputations. To download the guide, visit www.osha.gov- Courtesy of Professional Safety, Journal of American Society of Safety Engineers, July 2007 edition.

FIRE SAFETY

The Emergency Evacuation Planning Guide for People with Disabilities is available from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and can be found at www.nfpa.org. - Courtesy of Professional Safety, Journal of American Society of Safety Engineers, July 2007 edition.

WORKER HEALTH

Two filtering facepiece respirators, products of 3M Co., were recently approved for marketing by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). They will be available to the general public without a prescription and will help reduce the user's exposure to airborne germs during a public health medical emergency, such as an influenza pandemic. NIOSH also certified the products as N95 filtering face piece respirators. - Courtesy of Professional Safety, Journal of American Society of Safety Engineers, July 2007 edition.