Author: Melanie Loomos

I was a court reporter for 10 years and spent most of my time in very uncomfortable chairs. As a result, I spent years researching seating and submitted two patent applications: "The Carpal Tunnel Chair,” and "The Pillow with Cantilever Supports," which was granted and became The Buttpillow®. Subsequently, The Buttpillow® was improved upon as it was determined different embodiments were needed for proper ergonomic positioning depending on the individual sitter. The Patented "Ergonomic Seating Cushion,” was was granted by the USPTO; and was later amended to include an embodiment specifically to help women maintain the natural curve of their lumbar spine during the second and third trimester of pregnancy. An extreme lumbar curve that restricts blood flow to the fetus is the only external risk factor for low birth weight babies. Subsequently, in 2003, I invented Ergosoft™ break reminder software based on OSHAs Ergonomic Standard so people can identify and minimize ergonomic risk factors for the development of sitting-related pain, eye strain, DVT and carpal tunnel syndrome.

I like WordPress.com Better

Just a little note to all those people who have been told Wordpress.org is better. I have found after two years of experimentation, that Wordpress.com is better.

After trying WordPress.org and WordPress.com for two years, I think WordPress.com is better.

Every time I tried to get any help from a host (other than WordPress.com), the host offered to build me a web site for $5,000 or more.  It has happened two times.

Building a Web Site is Hard

I even built a web site on wordpress.org — buttpillow.com — and I haven’t been able to do anything with it.  I paid extra to have the best firewall and used Gutenberg, but allegedly Gutenberg was taking up too much space; so If my firewall is up, all my pages get re-routed with errors.

Right now my firewall is down so I can’t sell anything.   I still don’t have a cart after almost a year because my firewall cannot be used even though I paid for it.  When I called to troubleshoot about the firewall situation recently, of course, they advised since I built buttpillow.com myself, they would need to rebuild it for $5,000 or more since they will not attach a cart to a web site unless they build said web site.

Moving Content Back to WordPress.com

I am in the process of moving the content from Buttpillow.com to buttpillows.net and then will set up my cart.

I hired a different expert to do the cart on Buttpillow.com, which is on WordPress.org Gutenberg.  We’ll see how that works out.

Just a little note to all those people that have been told WordPress.org is so much better than WordPress.com. . .I find it to be the opposite.

 

Department of Labor Trade Release re: OSHA Fix

OSHA Form 300-A to be Submitted through the Injury Tracking Application (ITA) Online Portal by July 1, 2018

According to a U.S. Department of Labor Trade Release Dated April 30, 2018, by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), titled “U.S. Department of Labor Fixes Error Dating to 2016 Implementation of ‘Improve Tracking of Workplace Injuries and Illnesses’ Regulation” notice was given that OSHA had taken action to correct an error made with regard to implementation of the final rule.  

Data is to be Submitted through the ITA Online Portal

OSHA determined that Section 18 (c) (7) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act and relevant OSHA regulations pertaining to State Plans, require all affected employers to submit injury and illness data in the Injury Tracking Application (ITA) online portal even if the employer is covered by a State Plan that has not completed adoption of their own state rule.

Employers are Required to Submit Form 300-A through the ITA Online Portal by July 1, 2018

According to the above-mentioned Department of Labor Trade Release by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regarding the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970:

  • “OSHA immediately notified State Plans and informed them that for Calendar Year 2017 all employers covered by State Plans will be expected to comply” (with submitting data through the ITA Portal).  
  • “An employer covered by a State Plan that has not completed adoption of a state rule must provide Form 300-A data for Calendar Year 2017.  Employers are required to submit their data by July 1, 2018” (through the ITA Online Portal).
  • “There will be no retroactive requirement for employers covered by State Plans that have not adopted a state rule to submit data for Calendar Year 2016” (through the ITA Online Portal).

 

Copy of OSHA Trade Release

Copy of the April 30, 2018 OSHA Trade Relase re: Tracking of Workplace Injuries and Illnesses electronically. For more info go to OSHA.gov.

Trade Release

 Department of Labor, United States of America

U.S. Department of Labor
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
Office of Communications
Washington, D.C.
www.osha.gov

For Immediate Release
April 30, 2018
Contact: Office of Communications
Phone: 202-693-1999

U.S. Department of Labor Fixes Error Dating to 2016 Implementation of “Improve Tracking of Workplace Injuries and Illnesses” Regulation

WASHINGTON, DC – Following a review of the requirements put in place in 2016 regarding the “Improve Tracking of Workplace Injuries and Illnesses” regulation, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has taken action to correct an error that was made with regard to implementing the final rule.

OSHA determined that Section 18(c)(7) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act, and relevant OSHA regulations pertaining to State Plans, require all affected employers to submit injury and illness data in the Injury Tracking Application (ITA) online portal, even if the employer is covered by a State Plan that has not completed adoption of their own state rule.

OSHA immediately notified State Plans and informed them that for Calendar Year 2017 all employers covered by State Plans will be expected to comply. An employer covered by a State Plan that has not completed adoption of a state rule must provide Form 300A data for Calendar Year 2017.  Employers are required to submit their data by July 1, 2018. There will be no retroactive requirement for employers covered by State Plans that have not adopted a state rule to submit data for Calendar Year 2016.

A notice has been posted on the ITA website and related OSHA webpages informing stakeholders of the corrective action.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA’s role is to ensure these conditions for America’s working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance. For more information, visit www.osha.gov.

# # #

OSHA Form 300A – By Premium Reduction Center Blog

OSHA Form 300A requirement by the Premium Reduction Center

OSHA Form 300A posting deadline February 1, 2018 This month, all employers required to keep Form 300, the Injury and Illness Log, should be reviewing the Log to verify that entries are complete and accurate and correcting any deficiencies. The annual summary of injuries and illnesses recorded on OSHA Form 300A, Summary of Work-Related Injuries […]

via OSHA alert – Recordkeeping changes — Premium Reduction Center Blog

Beyond the costs of an injury — BWC Blog

A good read about prevention of injury and the need to address health disparities.

By Mark Leung, BWC Technical Medical Specialist, Recently promoted from the BWC Safety & Hygiene Fellowship program Occupational health and safety has been a public health focus for many years. Emphasizing worker protection and well-being advances the overall goal of reducing negative health outcomes in the future. The need to address health disparities within the […]

via Beyond the costs of an injury — BWC Blog

Origin of May Day | Bombing of Haymarket Square on May 4, 1886

International Labors Day – May 1 each year

According to the NIST Institute, May 1st of every year is known as International Labors Day and is dedicated to paying tribute to the Workers. 

It is also known as “May Day” and “International Workers Day,” and is a National Holiday in India and at least 80 other countries. 

apple-laptop-startup-photos

 

 

 

Origin of May Day

May Day originated by Labor Unions of the United States and Canada  in 1886 when on May 1st, the U.S. Labor Movement went on Strike to support an 8 hour work day and have better pay. 

 

Bombing of Haymarket Square on May 4, 1886

According to Wikipedia,  

“The Haymarket Affair was the aftermath of a bombing that took place at a labor demonstration on Tuesday, May 4, 1886, at Haymarket Square in Chicago. 

“It began as a peaceful rally in support of workers striking for an eight-hour day and in reaction to the killing of several workers the previous day by the police.  An unknown person threw a dynamite bomb at police as they acted to disperse the public meeting.”

The parties  to the civil conflict were the Federation of Organized Trades and Labor Unions (resulting in 4 deaths and 70+ injured) and the Chicago Police Department (resulting in 7 deaths and 60 injured).

President Grover Cleveland – 22nd and 24th President of U.S.

According to Wikipedia,

“Stephen Grover Cleveland was the 22nd and 24th Present of the United States, the only president in American history to serve two non-consecutive terms in office (1885-89 and 1893-97) . . . President Cleveland launched the Progressive Era.”

President Grover Cleveland Signed 8 Hour Work Day Into Law

President Grover Cleveland signed the 8 hour work day into law in 1894 as a result of the strike that occurred in 1886. 

U.S. and  Canada Celebrate Labor Day September 1st

The United States and Canada observe Labor Day on September 1st each year while most of the world celebrate Labor Day on May 1st.

Haymarket Massacre in Chicago as Origin of May Day

According to Wikipedia, “The Haymarket Affair is generally considered significant as the origin of International May Day observances for workers.” 

According to labor studies Professor, William J. Adelman:

“No single event has influenced the history of labor in Illinois, the United States, and even the world more than the Chicago Haymarket Affair.  It began with a rally on May 4, 1886, but the consequences are still being felt today.  Although the rally is included in American history textbooks, very few present the event accurately or point out its significance.”

International Labor Day

What is International Labors Day? International Labors Day, a significant day dedicated in paying tribute to the Workers is celebrated on May 1st of Every Year. It is also known as ‘May Day’ and ’International Workers Day’ and it is usually declared as National Holiday in India, in order to appreciate and motivate the support […]

via International Labors Day — NIST Institute – NEBOSH | IOSH | British Safety Council | Practical Training

Dyspareunia | Elevation of the Perineum with thebuttpillow — thebuttpillow (TM)

What is Dyspareunia? Dyspareunia (difficult mating) is defined as genital pain that occurs before, during, or after intercourse. This is not a well understood condition, and it can be lifelong or acquired. If dyspareunia has not always been present, it usually occurs ten years after the start of sexual activity. How Common is Dyspareunia? “Dyspareunia […]

via Dyspareunia | Elevation of the Perineum with thebuttpillow — thebuttpillow (TM)

Driving is Risk Factor for Low Back Pain

Occupational Medicine, Vol. 48, No. 3., pp. 153-160, 1998, “Musculoskeletal Problems and Driving in Police Officers,” written by D. E. Gyi and J. M. Porter, Vehicle Ergonomics Group, Department of Design and Technology, Loughborough University, Leicestershire, United Kingdom:

In the above-mentioned study, the Occupational Health Department of a rural police force in the United Kingdom had concerns with relation to driving and its link to musculoskeletal disorders.

“There are now an increasing number of researchers whose work implicates prolonged exposure to car driving as a risk factor for low back pain.  However, such epidemiological studies examining the relationship between car driving and back pain or other musculoskeletal troubles are difficult to conduct.  Driving as a task involves prolonged sitting, a fixed posture, and vibration, any of which could directly lead to musculoskeletal trouble.  It is likely that symptoms arise from multiple relationships and influences, (Rey, P., 1979).”

“These police drivers are also deemed to be at particular risk because of the following:

  • They are generally tall males and wear bulky clothing such that seat adjustment may be insufficient to obtain a good posture.
  • They drive fleet cars where the seat and suspension are exposed to excessive wear and tear.
  • They often have to drive in rapid response situations such that they are exposed to fast acceleration and deceleration.
  • Driving is often followed by strenuous physical activity such as lifting and running.
  • They spend most of their eight-hour shift driving or sitting in their vehicle.
  • They often have to take back-seat passengers, such that tall males are unable to take advantage of any seat adjustments that do exist.”

“In a survey of 2,000 U.S. police officers, the number and types of health disorders reported b these officers over a 6-month period were similar to those found in the general public over a 12 month period, (Hurrel, J., 1984).”

The results of the above-mentioned study agree with the findings of other studies that indicate driving a car is a risk factor for the development of low back pain.