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NIST to Fund Manufacturing Innovation Institutes

Up to two will be funded with as much as $70 million each. This time, NIST hasn't defined an area of focus; the agency says it is open to receiving proposals in any topic of interest to industry, particularly those relevant to manufacturing robotics and biopharmaceutical manufacturing.

Airbus Acquiring Flight Operations Company

Navtech serves more than 400 aircraft operators and aviation services customers worldwide with a suite of products that include electronic flight bag solutions, aeronautical charts, navigation data solutions, flight planning, aircraft performance, and crew planning solutions.

Border agents in Scotland have confiscated more than 15,000 hoverboards that have been tested and found to be unsafe, authorities said Dec. 3.

PHMSA Issues Alert on Shipping Hoverboards

PHMSA investigated 32 cargo containers and found that more than 80 percent of the shippers were unable to produce valid test reports to prove the lithium batteries had been properly manufactured and packaged to maintain integrity during transport.

Pace of Takata Airbag Recall Repairs Increasing

Three automakers have expanded their Takata passenger inflator recalls to include more model years or additional vehicles and/or inflators from model years affected by existing recalls, according to the NHTSA announcement, which said the expansions resulted from Takata's ballistic testing conducted in recent months.

Regular mail deliveries will take place on Dec. 24, 2015, and mail will be picked up from blue USPS boxes, according to the U.S. Postal Service.

There's Still Time for Last-Minute Mailing (and Avoiding Scammers)

As everyone should be aware, scammers and crooks aren't taking a holiday this week. A holiday season alert from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service urges the public to beware of bogus emails being sent to postal customers.

Study Confirms Lower Heart Failure Risk for Higher Cardiovascular Scores

The study found for each one-point higher cardiovascular health score, there was a 23 percent lower risk of developing heart failure. Those scoring in the middle third cut their risk of heart failure nearly in half versus those in the bottom third, while those in the top third reduced their risk even further.

American Red Cross Tallies Costs of 2015 Disaster Response

The cost of the four largest Red Cross disaster responses in the United States this year is more than $30 million; these include flooding in Texas and South Carolina, wildfires in California, and Typhoon Soudelor.

Zika Virus Cases Prompt Travel Advisories

The Public Health Agency of Canada and CDC are now urging travelers to protect themselves from mosquito bites when traveling to areas where Zika virus is circulating.



Cal/OSHA Cites Northridge Hospital

Employees were exposed to serious injuries, such as from sharps.

Boeing Agrees to Settle FAA Cases, Pay $12 Million

Boeing Commercial Airplanes has agreed to make improvements in management oversight and accountability, internal auditing, supplier management, and regulatory submissions.

The occupations with the largest number of lost-time cut, laceration, and puncture injuries in 2013 included construction laborers.

Oregon OSHA Clarifies Policies on Temp Companies

A revised program directive contains inspection criteria that apply to temporary service providers and worker leasing companies.

Tile Company Fined $261,000 for Silica Exposures

According to L&I inspectors, company employees were exposed to silica quartz dust at 3.4 times the permissible limit during stone slab grinding operations.

HHS New Rules Hope to Improve Child Care

The Administration for Children & Families proposed the new rules, which include new requirements for background checks and safety training for child care providers.

Southwest Airlines Planes Make Contact at Burbank Airport

The two planes bumped into each other, but no injuries were reported. Separately, the U.S. Department of Justice announced that Southwest Airlines Co. has settled a lawsuit involving allegations that Southwest violated Federal Aviation Administration safety regulations during its maintenance of its Boeing 737s.

NTSB to Unveil 2016 Most Wanted on Jan. 13

"The issues on the list are, by definition, among the most challenging transportation safety issues, and we hope that focusing more attention on them will encourage industry and government agencies to take action that will help move the needle," said NTSB Chairman Christopher A. Hart.

Some locations, operations, or hazmat personnel may require security awareness training that includes security risks associated with their specific tasks and methods designed to enhance security.

FMCSA Cuts Random Testing Rate for 2016

FMCSA reports the estimated positive random controlled substance test rate in 2013 was 0.7 percent, compared with the estimated positive rates for drugs of 0.9 percent in 2011 and 0.6 percent in 2012.

Senate Passes TSCA Reform Bill

"Some days you might not think we could pass a major environmental law in this Congress. But we've proven that wrong, and we have a very strong bill. Our bill finally gives the EPA the authority it needs. It sets clear guidelines for the EPA to evaluate new and existing chemicals and to protect the American people," said U.S. Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M.

U.S., Mexico Sign New Aviation Agreement

"Under the old agreement, only a limited number of U.S. carriers could operate between any given city pair. Now, that number is unlimited. Carriers will have new opportunities to serve any location in Mexico from any location in the U.S., opening up new routes for travelers. And increased carrier competition will greatly benefit Mexican and American tourists and business travelers by offering them more options, better service, and lower prices," Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx reported.

Attorney General Eric Holder recommends that federal law enforcement personnel who may encounter people experiencing an opioid overdose be trained and equipped with naloxone.

CDC Researchers Report Big 2014 Increase in Opioid Death Rates

Heroin overdose death rates increased by 26 percent from 2013 to 2014 and have more than tripled since 2010, from 1.0 per 100,000 in 2010 to 3.4 per 100,000 in 2014.

Forever 21 Settles OSHA Case

The Los Angeles-based clothing retailer has agreed to pay a $100,000 penalty.

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