"I didn't know Dimensions could help us with that"!!! It has recently been brought to our attention that some of our clients are not aware of the scope of Dimensions' services. We invite you to take a moment and view our updated overview of services. We have a passion for providing positive outcomes and thank you for enabling us to do what we love!

There are no formal communications from the recent OSHA's National Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety and Health (NACOSH) on Sept. 14-15, 2010, in Washington, D.C., to discuss OSHA initiatives, including Injury and Illness Prevention Programs, known as I2P2. However, there were engaged discussions regarding the purpose and meaning of I2Ps, and that a performance-based approach to address risks is needed, rather than just compliance driven mandates. Therefore, the goal being encouraged for I2P2 is similar to current ANSI Z 10 and OHSAS 18001 census standards. The value of safety is when it is something greater than simply compliance with an OSHA standard. The more that employers and employees take ownership for the overall safety and health of their workplaces, the more successful the program will be. This approach is right in-line with current recommendations for successful companies – that encouraging employee involvement instead of top down driven requirements – works! Effective communication, inclusive behaviors and fostering positive relationships impacts not just safety, but productivity, quality, and more meaningful work.

After five years of debate, a research group published their findings on brain cancer and cell phone use, but the paper raises more questions than it answers. Its conclusions are:

Overall, no increase in risk of [brain cancer] was observed with use of mobile phones. There were suggestions of an increased risk... at the highest exposure levels... However, biases and errors limit the strength of the conclusions and prevent a causal relationship... The possible effects of long-term heavy use of mobile phones require further investigation.

Can you imagine life without a cell phone? While becoming a way of life and work, the radio frequency (RF) waves from cell phones have also been depositing energy into users' brains. With billions of people exposed to more RF energy than ever before, scientists and the public have asked if a lifetime of cell phone use might be a health risk.

Cell phones are carefully designed and tested so that their RF emissions comply with all current health standards. However, the research upon which these safety guidelines are based cannot rule out the possibility of phone RF causing tumors in the head after 10 to 20 years of use. Since many people use cell phones and other RF devices at their work, potential hazards from cell phones are also of interest to the occupational safety and health community. Recommendations are to limit time on the phones and to use a handsfree device. For additional information refer to: http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/cellphones

The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced that it has concluded a special evaluation of state-run occupational safety and health programs under its jurisdiction. The reports provide detailed findings and recommendations on the operations of state-run OSHA programs in 25 states and territories. The enhanced review was initiated after a 2009 special OSHA report on Nevada's program, prompted by numerous construction-related fatalities in Las Vegas, identified serious operational deficiencies in that state.

"Our goal is to identify problems in state-run programs before they result in serious injuries or fatalities," said Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA Dr. David Michaels. "While we found many positives in the state programs, we also found deficiencies including concerns about identification of hazards, proper classification of violations, proposed penalty levels, and failure to follow up on violations to ensure that workplace safety and health problems are corrected."

The report and appendices for each of the 25 states, as well as each state's comment and fiscal year 2009 self-evaluation report, are now available on OSHA's website at http://www.osha.gov/dcsp/osp/efame/index.html. States have 30 days to provide a formal response, including a detailed corrective action plan for addressing findings and recommendations. Each state's formal response will be public information and available online as soon as it is received.

• Dimensions Updated Overview of Services
• Injury and Illness Prevention Programs
• Is Using Your Cell Phone A Health Hazard
• OSHA Reviews State Operated Programs