Thousands of people who provided assistance in the aftermath of the September 11 attack in New York are suffering significant ill-health effects, the US government has revealed in the run-up to the 10th anniversary of the atrocity.

Three solicitors have been suspended after breaching regulations that allowed their firm to collect £32m in fees from miners claiming compensation for vibration white finger and respiratory disease.

A Conservative MP has charged the Government with backtracking on a police contract for respiratory personal protective equipment (PPE), and putting the health and safety of ambulance crews at risk.

A comprehensive study of the health of workers who helped clean up in the aftermath of the attacks on the World Trade Centre in New York has revealed that thousands are now suffering from respiratory problems caused by the dust and fumes that enveloped ‘Ground Zero’ on and after September 11, 2001 (according to a report in the New York Times).

Two companies have been fined a total of £640,000 following the death of two workers who died while mounting a rescue operation on a barge moored at a salmon farm in Scotland.

A construction company failed to identify that lead paint was present during a renovation project, which resulted in two workers being admitted to hospital with acute lead poisoning.

Conflict between environmental and health and safety legislation led to two delivery workers being overcome by toxic fumes from rotting animal waste at a Scottish rendering plant.

Three employees were overcome by toxic gas, which was released when they were attempting to clear a blockage at a processing plant, a court has heard.

A sandblasting company has been prosecuted after failing to stop using sand containing free silica, the use of which has been prohibited since 1950.

Alan McArthur provides an overview of the main hazards faced by welders in their work and suggests the best measures to deal with them.

Making the right respiratory protective equipment (RPE) selection can mean the difference between safety and health or occupational illness, and, in some instances, even death, explains Greg Barber.

An accreditation scheme set up by the HSE and the British Safety Industry Federation (BSIF) to check the competency of face-piece fitters has returned a pass rate of less than 50 per cent.

The TUC is calling for urgent action to address dust levels in the workplace in order to prevent thousands of deaths in the UK every year.

JSP’s new concept in eye and respiratory protection, the Filterspec, has won the Frost & Sullivan 2011 North America New Product Innovation Award.

The British Safety Industry Federation (BSIF) has published an online RPE user guide, which offers advice on the recent amendments to the RPE standards.

New guidance on how to manage the health risks related to metal-working fluids has been published online by EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation.

Developed specifically for the food and beverage manufacturing industry comes a specialist range of Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) from 3M.

Draeger says its Mobile Display Vehicle allows employees, safety professionals and end users to see, feel and try out the latest technologically-advanced safety products in their own workplace, at their convenience.

When the disposable respirators used by Cornwall Fire & Rescue Service were no longer suitable to meet respiratory protective equipment (RPE) fit-testing requirements, diversified technology company 3M provided a tailored solution.

3M has launched a disposable respirator, which, it says, will provide wearers with superb flexibility and effective protection at incredible value.

FilterSpec® combines a mask and disposable filter with safety spectacles, or goggles in a way that allows respiratory and eye protection to work together with maximum effectiveness, says its manufacturer, JSP Ltd.