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OSHA 1910.1450, the standard on occupational exposure to hazardous chemicals in laboratories, serves to ensure that workers in nonproduction laboratories are informed about the hazards of chemicals in their workplaces and are provided with the appropriate clothing and other PPE. (Workrite Uniform Company photo)

The Do's and Don'ts of Lab Coats

Use these tips for selecting the best protection for those in your laboratory.

South Carolina Company Halts Nuclear Project

The board of directors at Santee Cooper on July 31 suspended construction work on Units 2 and 3 at the V.C. Summer Nuclear Station in Jenkinsville, S.C. -- a decision the company reports will save is customers nearly $7 billion.

New Report Highlights Health Workers' 2015 Exposures

A greater proportion of blood and body fluid splashes and splatters are occurring in patient and exam rooms than in years past, and almost two-thirds of them involved workers' eyes -- a significant concern because fewer than 7 percent of the workers involved with those exposures reported they were wearing eye protection, it reported.

OSHA Electronic Injury Reporting App Available Aug. 1

Establishments with 20-249 employees that are classified in certain industries with historically high rates of occupational injuries and illnesses -- they include construction, utilities, agriculture, and many more -- will have to electronically submit information from OSHA Form 300A.

West Virginia Opts In to FirstNet to Transform Public Safety Communications

AT&T, in a public-private partnership with FirstNet, will build, operate, and maintain the network at no cost to the state for the next 25 years; the governor said it will transform the way West Virginia's fire, police, EMS, and other public safety personnel communicate and share information.

OSHA Revises Online Whistleblower Complaint Form

Workers also can opt to file a complaint by fax, mail, or hand-delivery, by contacting the agency at 800-321-6742, or by calling an OSHA regional or area office.

Each year, 660,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with cancer related to tobacco use, and 343,000 people die from such cancers, according to CDC.

FDA to Seek Lower Nicotine Levels in Cigarettes

The agency said it will launch a public dialogue about lowering nicotine levels in combustible cigarettes to non-addictive levels through achievable product standards, including issuing an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to seek input on the potential public health benefits and any possible adverse effects of lowering nicotine in cigarettes.

ISO 45001 Standard Second Draft Approved

ASSE is the administrator of the U.S. technical advisory group that developed the U.S. position on the standard. ASSE leaders including Tom Cecich, its immediate past president, say ISO 45001 is one of the most significant occupational safety and health voluntary national consensus standards ever.



ATSB's Chief Pilot Approved to Fly Drones

The Australian safety agency already has taken advantage by taking investigative video with its drone after a loaded coal train derailed in Queensland on July 21, 2017.

Big Decisions Coming for Oregon's Public Pension System

The Public Employees Retirement System's board is expected to vote July 28 on whether to lower the assumed return on its investments during the next two decades, reducing it from the currently assumed 7.5 percent average return per year.

The June 23, 2016, floods in West Virginia killed 23 people and damaged homes, businesses, schools, and infrastructure, to the tune of $339.8 million in flood costs.

DHS Unit Touts New Tech to Boost Readiness for Floods

The Flood Awareness Apex applies emerging technologies to improve community resilience from flood disasters in order to reduce flood fatalities and property losses.

Canada Encouraging Broader Livestock Traceability

CFIA is considering changes to the Health of Animals Regulations that would require all Canadian operators of premises where livestock may be loaded or unloaded from a vehicle to have a valid premises identification number for each site and to report the number when receiving livestock.

HHS Upgrades Online Tool on Health Data Breaches

The revised HIPAA Breach Reporting Tool allows entities to report a breach, and the website informs members of the public of how breaches are investigated and resolved.

43 Percent of Americans Admit They're Too Tired to Function at Work

The National Safety Council conducted a survey that found 97 percent of respondents report at least one risk factor for fatigue.

The MOL Comfort, representing a loss of all 4,293 containers on board in 2013, accounted for 77 percent of that year

Report Says Fewer Containers Lost at Sea Since 2014

From 2008 to 2016, an average of 568 containers were lost at sea per year -- 1,582 on average when catastrophic events are included. On average, 64 percent of containers lost during that period were attributed to a catastrophic event.

NTSB: SUV Driver at Fault in 2015 Rail Crash

The board has recommended that local officials assess the safety of at-grade crossings, such as the Commerce Street crossing, and that commuter railroads that use third-rail power systems at or near grade crossings should assess their safety.

Kansas Company Honored for 16 Years with No Lost-Time Accidents

The Kansas Department of Labor's Industrial Safety and Health division and Secretary Lana Gordon recognized Flame Engineering Inc. of LaCrosse, Kansas, this month for reaching 16 years with no lost-time accidents.

GM Offers In-Vehicle App Testing to Developers

After the developer has built an application's proof of concept with the kit, the next development step is to conduct real-world testing using a GM vehicle's infotainment system. GM Dev Client allows partners and developers the ability to test their apps in a GM vehicle once they have obtained approval from GM.

DOL Accepting Nominations for Apprenticeship Task Force Until Aug. 8

The task force, which Acosta will chair, has been asked to identify strategies and proposals to promote apprenticeships, especially in sectors where apprenticeship programs are currently insufficient.

Health Canada OKs 14th Supervised Consumption Site

"We are committed to working with all partners across the country to combat the overdose crisis. Supervised consumption sites are an important part of a comprehensive response," said Jane Philpott, Canada's minister of Health.

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