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West Virginia Releases Analysis of 2016 OD Deaths

The 61-page analysis identifies multiple key findings, including that men working in blue-collar industries with a higher risk of injury may be at increased risk for overdose death. About 705 -- 85 percent -- of the analyzed overdose deaths were opioid related.

New Ohio Fire Academy Superintendent Sworn In

Jack Smith is the new superintendent of the Ohio Fire Academy. He is responsible for overseeing all operations of the academy, including curriculum, training programs, training grounds, and personnel.

$355,000 Fine Issued in Seattle Asbestos Case

L&I's investigation found a total of 12 willful workplace health violations for exposing workers to asbestos, failing to provide respiratory protection, leaving asbestos debris on site, and other safety and health issues.

Ice Jam Flooding Preparations Made in New York State

The National Weather Service issued flood watches and advisories for ice jam flooding for many portions of New York State. Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Commissioner Roger Parrino, Sr. said the division is working closely with local and state partners on ice jam and flooding issues throughout the state.

Some 7,000 American drivers per day were treated in emergency departments following motor vehicle crashes in 2012, CDC reported.

Thirteen States Earn Advocates' 'Worst' Rating for 2017

"Our country is approaching nine years without a single death caused by a commercial aviation crash yet, today, we can't go 15 minutes without a single death caused by a motor vehicle crash. Going forward, the most promising and pragmatic strategy at hand is adopting safety laws and advancing available safety technologies," said Jackie Gillan, President Emeritus of Advocates.

IAFF Firefighter Cancer Summit Set for Feb. 1

"Cancer can be devastating for fire fighters, and we are just beginning to understand the scope of this problem," said IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger, who is scheduled to deliver opening remarks at the event. "That's why we're bringing together the best and brightest minds on this subject. We must continue to learn all that we can to save more lives."

ATSB Issues Report on Near Miss with Train's Passengers

In May 2014, a passenger train nearly ran into a group of passengers who were walking on the tracks to board a bus after their own train was delayed. At the time the driver saw them, his train was moving about 73 mph; he applied emergency brakes and managed to stop his train in time.

New South Wales Adds Cocaine to Driver Drug Testing

The announcement came after 392 people died on NSW roads in 2017, with 42 of the deaths involving drug-affected drivers.



Ejection Seat Manufacturer Pleads Guilty

Red Arrows pilot Sean Cunningham, 35, died on Nov. 8, 2011, following the ejection from his aircraft, which was on the ground. Martin Baker Aircraft Ltd manufactured the ejection seat.

Tethered logging operations must be planned by the operator and the competent person on how to safely operate on slopes more than 50 percent, taking into consideration the experience of the operator; limitations of the machine and soil conditions; direction of travel; requirements for turning the machine on slopes; weather; load sizes; method and adequacy of anchorage; and any other adverse conditions.

Oregon OSHA Announces 15th Annual Safety Break

Employers across the state are invited to participate in Safety Break for Oregon on May 9. Three participating companies will win $100 in a drawing if they sign up online by May 4.

Federal Agencies to Resume Operations Following Shutdown

According to the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, federal government employees are expected to return for work on their next regularly scheduled work day, which for most employees is Tuesday.

West Virginia 'Drug Czar' Retires

Before he became the state's "drug czar," Johnson had been director of the Huntington (W.Va.) Mayor's Office of Drug Control Policy and previously had served as police chief and officer for the city of Huntington for more than 40 years.

NTSB Meeting This Week on 2016 O'Hare Incident

The Associated Press reported last July that NTSB determined a high-pressure turbine disk in the right engine broke into four pieces, which shot out of the engine's housing, and that the board has identified at least three previous uncontained engine failures in commercial airliners in which a disk from the same family of GE engines failed.

Florida Troopers Issued Opioid Overdose Antidote for Patrols

The Narcan units will help FHP troopers when they encounter an overdose situation while on patrol and also help protect first responders who may be accidentally exposed and overcome by the effects of dangerous opioids.

CDC Study Finds Highest Adult Asthma Deaths in Construction, Health Care

The annual number of asthma deaths among persons ages 15 to 64 declined significantly from 1999 to 2016, "most likely reflecting improvements in asthma management and effectiveness of prevention efforts," the authors find.

Canada Planning Regs to Lower Sodium in Processed Foods

Health Canada announced it will conduct an in-depth analysis of each category and will meet with industry stakeholders and scientific experts to better understand the challenges encountered in reducing sodium.

More Than $240,000 Awarded to Ohio Communities for Boating Safety Education

More than $240,000 in funding from Ohio's Waterways Safety Fund is being provided to support 10 community boating safety education programs this year, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

A Joint Chemical Agent Detector equipped with a threshold confidence checker in black, on top, is shown in this NIST photo by Jason Stoughton.

New Device Tests DoD Chemical Detectors

NIST's Threshold Confidence Checker weighs only a few grams. It can be slid onto the top of a JCAD in order to get an exact measurement of the device’s sensing capabilities.

NY Mayor Signs Construction Noise Measure

"By lowering the allowable after-hours noise limit in residential areas, allowing inspectors to take noise readings from the street rather than from inside an apartment, and empowering inspectors with the ability to issue a stop work order for noisy equipment, this legislation should help bring some much-needed relief to New Yorkers," said DEP Commissioner Vincent Sapienza.

The recommendation is based on a systematic review of all available studies that was conducted by scientists and subject matter experts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

National Academies Report Endorses Lower BAC, Higher Alcohol Taxes

"The plateauing fatality rates indicate that what has been done to decrease deaths from alcohol-impaired driving has been working but is no longer sufficient to reverse this growing public health problem," Committee Chair Steven Teutsch said. "Our report offers a comprehensive blueprint to reinvigorate commitment and calls for systematic implementation of policies, programs, and systems changes to renew progress and save lives."

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