Page 10 - Occupational Health & Safety, August 2018

INDUSTRY UPDATE
Oklahoma Voters Pass Medical Marijuana Measure
Oklahoma voters passed State Question 788 on June 26, with more than 56 percent of the voters saying they want medical mar- ijuana to be legal in the state. The question got on the state ballot via an initiative peti- tion in 2016, and after a court fight that was won by proponents of the measure, Gov. Mary Fallin set June 26 as the election date.
Fallin issued a statement on election night after unofficial results showed the measure had passed: “I respect the will of the voters in any question placed before them to determine the direction of our state. It is our responsibility as state lead- ers to look out for the health and safety of Oklahoma citizens. As I mentioned in previous public comments, I believe, as well as many Oklahomans, this new law is written so loosely that it opens the door for basically recreational marijuana. I will be discussing with legislative leaders and state agencies our options going forward on how best to proceed with adding a medical and proper regulatory framework to make sure marijuana use is truly for valid medical illnesses.”
She had said that, if SQ 788 passed, a special session of state legislators would be necessary because the measure requires implementation so quickly, but Fallin an- nounced June 29 that she had conferred with state legislative leaders and decided a special session was not necessary be- cause the Oklahoma State Department of Health has developed emergency rules and a regulatory framework to implement the measure. SQ 788 says the department is to receive applications for medical license recipients, dispensaries, growers, and pack- agers within 60 days of the passage of the initiative, and also that the department must, within 30 days of its passage, post on its website an application for a medical marijuana dispensary license.
Agencies Launch
Drug Tracking Website
The ongoing opioid crisis is partially fueled by fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that comes in many forms that are difficult to track. In an effort to help combat this, scientists at the National Institute of Standards and Tech- nology (NIST), the German Federal Crimi- nal Police Office (BKA), and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency recently launched a
website where forensic chemists can share data on new variants or analogs of drugs. The Novel Psychoactive Substances Data Hub includes the chemical signatures and structures of drug variants, which is vital to identifying them in the lab. The goal is to provide data for drug identification to fo- rensic chemists more quickly.
“If people start overdosing and dying from a new drug analog, authorities need to identify it as quickly as possible,” said Aaron Urbas, the NIST research chemist who directed the project. “If you want to focus your resources effectively, you need to know what you’re looking for.”
In addition to data on synthetic opi- oids like fentanyl, the Data Hub is also intended to host data on synthetic canna- binoids (synthetic marijuana), synthetic cathinones (aka bath salts), amphet- amines, and other drugs.
Illegal drug manufacturers create new variants to increase drug potency and stay one step ahead of law enforcement. When drugs are seized, forensic chemists try to identify it by checking its chemical signa- ture against law enforcement databases of drug chemical signatures. New and differ- ent drug variants may not be recognized, and identifying the substance will require more time and more complex analysis.
“These people have very rare expertise,” NIST senior policy advisor Jayne Morrow said. “The Data Hub brings these experts together and provides a forum where they can discuss what they’re seeing in real time. There haven’t been great ways to do that be- fore, and it’s really needed.”
Safety Toolkit Offered
to Solid Waste Haulers
The Solid Waste Association of North American (SWANA) has created a Hauler Safety Toolkit to provide safety messages and resources directly to haulers. The tool- kit was developed by safety leaders within each of the SWANA chapters. It combines safety resources into a shareable form for SWANA Chapter Safety Ambassadors to distribute at Hauler Safety Outreach events.
According to WasteDive, it can serve as a starter kit for companies looking to build a strong safety culture. The toolkit includes safety guidance and material such as the “5 to Stay Alive” safety tips and “Top 10 Back- ing Best Practices.” There is also a Safety Pledge for workers to sign and a Pledge to
Get Home Safe mini poster.
SWANA reports that collection work-
ers currently have the fifth-highest occu- pational fatality rate in the United States; the organization hopes the toolkit’s safety messaging will help reduce the rate of in- juries and fatalities for drivers when they bring material to landfills, transfer stations, waste-to-energy facilities, materials recov- ery facilities, and other sites.
“The SWANA Hauler Safety Toolkit is a great resource to touch drivers, helpers, supervisors, and managers in the waste in- dustry and sends a consistent safety mes- sage to all industry professionals,” said James Profitt, assistant manager of opera- tions at Montgomery County Solid Waste Services and SWANA’s Safety Ambassador for Ohio. “I plan to work with landfills, transfer stations, and MRFs in Ohio to provide a consistent message about safety, along with some specific rules and regula- tions for each disposal site.”
Keynote Speakers
Announced for IOHA 2018
The International Occupational Hygiene Association (IOHA) recently announced that Nancy Leppink, JD, will be the open- ing keynote speaker for the 2018 IOHA In- ternational Scientific Conference. Leppink is chief of the International Labour Organi- zation’s Labour Administration, Labour In- spection, Occupational Safety and Health Branch. IOHA 2018 will take place Sept. 24-26, 2018, at the Marriott Marquis hotel in Washington, D.C., with professional de- velopment courses offered Sept. 22, 23, and 27. This year’s theme is “Bringing Better Health to Workers Worldwide.”
Leppink’s keynote is titled “The Conse- quences of Globalization on Worker Health and Safety in Developing Countries.” She will speak on the history of ILO and its functions in tripartite collaboration, such as assisting governments of developing countries with regulatory structures and OHS management systems. Her keynote on Sept. 24 will begin at 8:30 a.m.
Roger Alesbury, MSc, Dip OH, CF- FOH, of the Occupational Hygiene Train- ing Association (Ret.) will be receiving the IOHA Lifetime Achievement Award at the event. His Sept. 25 keynote speech will dis- cuss examples of developing programs in places where there are few or no resources for occupational hygiene.
10 Occupational Health & Safety | AUGUST 2018
www.ohsonline.com