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South Dakota Reports First 2018-19 Flu Death

"Our sympathy is with the family. Their loss serves as a reminder to us all that influenza can be a very serious illness," said Dr. Joshua Clayton, state epidemiologist for the department. "It is not too late to get vaccinated for this flu season, and if you haven't yet received your annual flu vaccination, the time to do so is now."

German Entry Wins 2018 Healthy Workplaces Film Award

The annual award honors an outstanding documentary or animated film that focuses on the experiences of workers, examining such topics as the effects of economic and political change on work, workplace risks, and mental health and well-being at work.

FEMA Agrees to Make Vendors Change Emergency Alert Software

FEMA concurred with both recommendations in the DHS inspector general's report but said it expects to complete its work on both on Oct. 31, 2019.

Health Groups Release Recommendations on Drug Shortages

They include conducting a GAO study to identify factors that contribute to shortages and developing a list of critical drugs essential for emergency response and preserving life.

NSC's Deborah Hersman Joining Waymo as Chief Safety Officer

"On behalf of the NSC Board of Directors, congratulations to Debbie on her exciting new role with Waymo," said Board Chairman Mark Vergnano. "Debbie has always been a strong champion for safety, and she is perfectly positioned to lead Waymo through the next phase of their self-driving vehicle program."

HHS Program Aids California Fire Victims

Uninsured residents of Butte, Los Angeles, and Ventura counties in California are eligible for no-cost replacements of critical medications that were lost or damaged by the wildfires in those three counties, thanks to the HHS Emergency Prescription Assistance Program.

Utility's CEO Promises 'Safer Than Ever' Gas System at Field Hearing

Daniel Rivera, the mayor of Lawrence, faulted Columbia Gas for its actions during and after the disaster. "It was clear that the Columbia Gas engineers and Columbia Gas Massachusetts top leadership were afraid and lacked a clear path to deal with the disaster," he said in his prepared statement. "They owned the pipe, owned the gas in the pipe, they owned the customer relationships, yet they failed to own this disaster."

All Sixteen Cintas Sites in Indiana Achieve Star Status

"Cintas Corporation's achievement is extraordinary, unmatched by any other Hoosier company, and has taken many years to accomplish," said Indiana Department of Labor Commissioner Rick Ruble. "We applaud Cintas for its exceptional commitment to protecting workers, not just in the Hoosier state, but across the country."



CSB Extends Deadline for Combustible Dust Comments

Comments in response to the U.S. Chemical Safety Board's "Call to Action: Combustible Dust" are now due by Dec. 31.

Canada Testing Emergency Alert System This Week

The CRTC, which regulates the broadcasting and telecommunications service providers that distribute emergency alerts to the public, set a target that 50 percent of new devices sold in Canada be wireless public alert compatible as of April 2018 and 100 percent as of April 2019.

Second National Summit on Rural Road Safety Set for Dec. 4-6

The event will take place Dec. 4-6 at the Savannah Marriott Riverfront in Savannah, Ga.

CSB Sets Dec. 12 Town Hall on Husky Refinery Explosion

The agency has previously reported that the initial explosion occurred in the refinery's Fluid Catalytic Cracking Unit at about 10 a.m. while the refinery was shutting down that unit for periodic maintenance and inspection.

The CCGS Louis S. St-Laurent worked through heavy Arctic ice conditions near Cape Bathurst, Northwest Territories. (Canadian Coast Guard photo)

Canadian Coast Guard's 2018 Arctic Operations Ending Soon

Seven icebreakers were deployed to the Arctic during the season and provided safe escorts of ships through ice-covered waters, conducted 20 search-and-rescue operations and 14 environmental response missions, and supported safe navigation, science missions, and training operations with partners.

The airline industry is expected to end 2016 with another record operating profit of around $60 billion and an operating margin of 8 percent, ICAO reported Jan. 2.

DOT Forms In-Flight Sexual Misconduct Task Force

Its members will be announced during the first meeting of DOT's Aviation Consumer Protection Advisory Committee, which is scheduled to take place Jan. 16, 2019, in Washington, D.C.

PHMSA Publishes Plastic Pipe Final Rule

The updates to Federal Pipeline Safety Regulations for plastic piping systems used to transport natural or other gas reflect changing technologies and issues affecting plastic pipe and respond to several industry petitions asking PHMSA to consider regulatory updates for plastic pipe.

WHO Charts New Course on Malaria

"There is no standing still with malaria. The latest world malaria report shows that further progress is not inevitable and that business as usual is no longer an option," said Dr. Kesete Admasu, CEO of the RBM Partnership to End Malaria. "The new country-led response will jump-start aggressive new malaria control efforts in the highest burden countries and will be crucial to get back on track with fighting one of the most pressing health challenges we face."

FDA Updating Medical Device Review Process

At the heart of new actions FDA is taking is a new goal: ensuring the FDA is consistently first among the world's regulatory agencies to identify and act upon safety signals related to medical devices.

DEA 2019 Video Challenge Under Way

High school students can submit an original 30-60 second public service announcement about the dangers of prescription opioid misuse for a chance to win the $10,000 first prize.

Amtrak's PTC Work Nearly Finished

In response to two significant derailments early in FY2018, Amtrak began implementation of a Safety Management System to anticipate and mitigate risk.

SWA Announcing People's Choice Award Winner Nov. 30

Voting is under way on a shortlist of five finalists, including one focused on preventing welding fume exposures in the rail industry, after Safe Work Australia received more than 70 entries.

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