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NRC Considering Friends of the Earth's Petition About Diablo Canyon

FOE filed it Aug. 26, 2014, stating its concerns about the Diablo Canyon Power Plant's operational safety and its ability to safely shut down in the event of a nearby earthquake.

The Public Safety Analytics R&D Roadmap is a report evaluating software, network, and device technologies that could improve public safety response, communications, and operations during the next 20 years. The roadmap will guide planning for public safety communications research, including how to allocate the $300 million NIST is to receive from the 2015 AWS-3 spectrum auction.

Commerce Releases Public Safety Analytics R&D Roadmap

It is a report evaluating software, network, and device technologies that could improve public safety response, communications, and operations during the next 20 years. The roadmap will guide planning for public safety communications research, including how to allocate the $300 million NIST is to receive from the 2015 AWS-3 spectrum auction.

OSHA Cites Four Companies After Worker Suffers Fatal Injuries

The agency says the companies violated confined space safety regulations while working on a renovation of the Springfield Metro Sanitary District's Sugar Creek Plant.

Two North Dakota Companies Cited After Serious Fall Injury

OSHA has asked all employers to commit to fall safety in its annual May campaign.

The Toyota Mirai is equipped with a nickel metal hydride hybrid battery, two carbon fiber-reinforced hydrogen tanks with safety shut-off valves, and a hydrogen monitoring system with leak detection sensors. (Toyota photo)

NFPA Alerts Responders to Be Ready for Toyota's Mirai

The new hydrogen fuel car is now available for use on California roads. It and other alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs) are challenging for the fire service and emergency responders.

NAHB Working to Derail Silica Standard

"We strongly urge OSHA to re-examine and reassess how its final rule will negatively harm the construction industry, job growth, consumers, and the economy while doing little to improve the health and safety of industry workers," said NAHB Chairman Ed Brady. "Given that it is unlikely the agency will change course, Congress must take the lead and act swiftly to craft legislation that will keep this fundamentally flawed rule from taking effect."

World's Largest Sauerkraut Cannery Cited After Worker Falls into Vat

GLK foods has been cited by OSHA for the fourth time in five years for exposing workers to multiple hazards.

FMCSA Seeking Input on 'Beyond Compliance' Program

The agency is seeking stakeholders' input during the next 60 days.



Corvallis, Ore.-based VDOS Global uses aerial robotics and remote sensing to provide oil and gas inspections, environmental research, aerial surveying and other services using for its clients around the world. (VDOS image)

Senate Passes FAA Reauthorization Bill

Leaders of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee said the bill reauthorizing FAA through FY2017 contains provisions to encourage the responsible use of drones. For example, Section 2134 of the bill would prohibit drone users from interfering with emergency response activities and would raise civil penalties to a maximum of $20,000 for violation of the law.

Recovered Debris 'Almost Certainly' from MH370

ATSB confirmed two parts found on the Mozambique coast are a segment from a Boeing 777 flap track fairing and a horizontal stabilizer panel segment, and both are "almost certainly from the Malaysian Airlines Boeing 777 aircraft, registered 9M-MRO," which is the designation of the MH370 aircraft.

Polaris Industries Inc., of Medina, Minn., has recalled about 133,000 Model Year 2013-2016 RZR 900 and RZR 1000 recreational off-highway vehicles after receiving more than 160 reports of fires associated with them, including one incident where a 15-year-old passenger died from a rollover that resulted in a fire and 19 reports of injuries.

Fire Risk Sparks ROV Recall

Polaris Industries Inc., of Medina, Minn., has recalled about 133,000 Model Year 2013-2016 RZR 900 and RZR 1000 recreational off-highway vehicles after receiving more than 160 reports of fires associated with them, including one incident where a 15-year-old passenger died from a rollover that resulted in a fire and 19 reports of injuries, including first-, second-, and third-degree burns.

Young Americans' Tobacco Use Not Declining

A CDC report says 4.7 million middle and high school students use at least one tobacco product. "E-cigarettes are now the most commonly used tobacco product among youth, and use continues to climb," said CDC Director Dr. Tom Frieden, M.D., MPH.

FAA Issues New Flight Simulator Regulations

The rules will improve pilots' response to unusual situations, as well as give more credit toward the requirements for an instrument rating.

Safety Equipment Institute to Become ASTM Subsidiary

ASTM said its existing certification activities will transfer to SEI, which holds accreditations to ISO 17065 for product certification. SEI employees will come under the ASTM International umbrella on July 1 and Pat Gleason will retain the title of president of SEI while also becoming vice president of Certification for ASTM International.

Appeals Court Upholds NFL's Concussion Settlement

The 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the $1 billion settlement in an April 18 decision, saying the settlement may not be perfect but is fair.

Zika virus is transmitted to people primarily through the bite of an infected Aedes species mosquito, the mosquitoes that alos spread dengue and chikungunya viruses.

American College of Physicians Calls for Global Climate Action

"The American College of Physicians urges physicians to help combat climate change by advocating for effective climate change adaptation and mitigation policies, helping to advance a low-carbon health care sector, and by educating communities about potential health dangers posed by climate change," said ACP President Dr. Wayne J. Riley

Occupational Deaths Dropped in Washington State Last Year

Falls continue to be a leading cause of work-related deaths, accounting for 25 percent (15) of the fatal incidents last year, and one-third of the 2015 fatal falls were from ladders.

New Food Illness Tests Pose a Problem, CDC Warns

"Foodborne infections continue to be an important public health problem in the United States," said Dr. Robert Tauxe, M.D., MPH, director of CDC's Division of Foodborne, Waterborne and Environmental Diseases. "We are working with partners to make sure we still get important information about harmful bacteria despite the increasing use of diagnostic tests that don't require a culture."

FMCSA Issues Safety Advisory for Re-inspection of Certain Cargo Tank Vehicles

The tanks in question were tested by H&W Tank Testing and Christopher Humphries.

$20.5 Million Available via DOT to Improve Access to Transit

The grant funds are available for communities across the country looking to improve access to public transit.

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