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Seattle Contractor Fined in Fatal Trench Collapse

Harold Felton was killed last January when the dirt walls of the trench he was working in collapsed and buried him, and rescuers were unable to dig him out in time.

DARPA Hails Smartphone-Sized Radiation Detectors

The networked devices were developed as part of the SIGMA program, which began in 2014 with the goal of creating a cost-effective, continuous radiation-monitoring network that can cover a large city or region.

2017 VPPPA Regional Conferences Kick Off in April

VPPPA's regional conference calendar is packed in late spring and summer next year, starting with the Region IX conference in early April.



Celebrating Labor Day 2016

"The best way we, in the occupational safety and health community, can honor workers today and throughout the year, is to ensure safe and healthful working conditions for every man and woman—young and old alike," NIOSH Director Dr. John Howard wrote in his Labor Day 2016 message.

#VPPPA33 Set for the Big Easy

New Orleans is a very popular destination and Louisiana is in VPPPA's Region VI, the biggest region, which encompasses Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana.

NHTSA Chief Sends Safe Driving Message for Labor Day Weekend

NHTSA has reported that there were 35,092 people killed in U.S. traffic crashes during 2015, which ended a five-decade trend of declining fatalities with a 7.2 percent increase in deaths from 2014, and its data showed a 3.2 percent increase in drunk driving fatalities -- with 10,265 such deaths in 2015, compared to 9,943 in 2014.

OSHA, Health Canada Develop Joint Workplace Chemicals Work Plan

The updated plan will align labeling and classification for the hazards of workplace chemicals.

Preparedness Month Begins with Floridians on Alert

"Disasters don't always occur when we are together with our family and friends, and so it is important to take a few minutes now to plan what you will do in the event you are separated," FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate said.

$1 Million Awarded to Help Ohio Coal Workers Affected by Layoffs

The Labor Department has awarded the funding via a National Dislocated Worker Grant.

OSHA Appoints New Construction Directorate Chief

Dean McKenzie has more than 40 years of experience in construction, having started in the steel mills of Gary, Ind., as a journeyman millwright in the mid-1970s.

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Counting Down to NSC 2016

The pre-conference program identifies 10 technical sessions as "hot topics" for this year—and they look very promising.

Confirm that the instrument comes with Certificate of Calibration that is NIST traceable according to ISO/IEC 17025 testing criteria. Ensure that the instrument comes with a warranty and secure return policy. (Sper Scientific Environmental Measurement Instruments photo)

What Should You Know When Purchasing a WBGT Instrument?

In 2014 alone, 2,630 workers suffered from heat illness and 18 died, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.

When electricians are beginning to test and commission the building wiring system during the final phase of construction, only qualified persons should be involved with the turning on and off of electrical circuits.

Temporary Electrical Power, Keeping it Safe!

If planned properly, many components that will be a part of the permanent and final installation could be a part of the overall temporary power for the project.

Everyone is Out of the Building. Now What?

Be prepared to communicate. This is an element of response that is often overlooked and needs to be continually practiced.

Plumbed eyewash stations are permanently connected to a source of potable water, whereas portable stations are self-contained gravity-fed units with their own flushing fluid that must be replaced after each use. (Radians photo)

Understanding the ANSI Z358.1-2014 Standard for Plumbed and Portable Eyewash Stations

The ANSI Z358.1-2014 standard serves as a benchmark within the United States and also internationally to help protect workers from eye injuries from caustic and corrosive substances.

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