US Update
Published by MAC on 2006-03-02
US Update
2nd March 2006
The US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OHSA) has cut allowable exposure to hexavalent chromium by a factor of ten.
A US jury's decision last week, to award punitive damages against the country's biggest paint makers for using lead, has been rejected by a Rhode Island Supreme Court judge. However, it's still likely that the companies will have to pay several billion dollars for "clean up" costs.
US greenhouse gas emissions rose by more than 15% between 1990 and 2004 - and nearly a further 2% in 2004 alone.
The New York Times declares the collusion between the Bush regime and the mining industry to beat the root of an appalling failure to prevent employee health and safety violations.
In another study, by USA TODAY of mine safety records at the Sago mine in West Virginia, it's revealed that the federal inspectorate grossly under-estimated dangers leading up to the disaster of January 2nd 2006.
According to the Mine Safety and Health Administration, more than 80% of safety violations nationwide in 2005 were registered as affecting only one person. It's a tactic which enables companies to minimise their responsiblity for protecting workers.
And, not surprisingly, there are attempts to revive the rejected Asbestos compensation bill.