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Increased Enforcement Leads to FRA's Highest-Ever Penalty Collection Rate

In an effort to increase overall rail safety, enforcement has been stepped-up.

The explosion in West, Texas, prompted President Obama

CSB's West Recommendations Coming Jan. 28

The safety board has a public meeting scheduled from 6-9 p.m. in Waco, Texas, near the explosion site.

Pan American Health Organization Stresses Zika Surveillance, CDC Issues New Guidelines

The Zika virus is now circulating in 18 countries and territories of Latin America and the Caribbean, causing the Pan American Health Organization to recommend that its 35 member countries monitor and report any increase in neurological syndromes and congenital anomalies.



Canadian Government Ends Conditional Pesticide Registrations

Conditional registrations have been granted when scientific review determines the risks of a pesticide are acceptable but additional confirming data are required. Conditional registrations don't undergo a public consultation until the registration is amended, renewed, or converted to a full registration.

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

CPSC Chairman Sounds the Alarm on Hoverboards

Chairman Elliot F. Kaye said both UL and ASTM International are preparing to work on the development of standards for hoverboards that would seek to address both types of hazards, and he will direct CPSC staff to participate in the standards' development.

ECHA Finds 22 Labs Ready for One-Generation Reproductive Toxicity Studies

ECHA performed a similar study in 2012 and now reports that global laboratory capacity to conduct the studies has increased. The latest study was triggered by the recent change in the REACH information requirements.

Multiple Violations Assessed Against Food Packaging Provider

OSHA has cited Genpak for failing to implement specific procedures to prevent machinery from starting up during maintenance and servicing and also for exposing workers to fall hazards from unguarded platforms.

The proposed rule would replace the current three-tier system of "satisfactory-conditional-unsatisfactory" for federally regulated commercial motor carriers with a single determination of "unfit."

FMCSA Proposes Rule to Focus on Higher-Risk Motor Carriers

"This update to our methodology will help the agency focus on carriers with a higher crash risk," said FMCSA Acting Administrator Scott Darling. "Carriers that we identify as unfit to operate will be removed from our roadways until they improve."

WHO Renews Warning on Counterfeit Meds

"They can be found in illegal street markets, via unregulated websites through to pharmacies, clinics, and hospitals" and are difficult to detect because they are frequently designed to appear identical to the genuine product and may not cause an obvious adverse reaction, according to the updated WHO fact sheet.

FHWA is seeking input in eraly 2016 on improving the ability to view content in the 862-page MUTCD and developing a structure to make it easier to use.

Highways Agency Seeks Input on Modernizing MUTCD

FHWA is seeking input by Feb. 18 on improving users' ability to view content in the 862-page MUTCD and developing a structure to make it easier to use.

Foundation's Report Evaluates 2.5-Inch Connections' Actual Flow

The Technical Committee for NFPA 14 added the requirement for one 2.5-inch inlet per every 250 gallons per minute (gpm) in 2007, "but this requirement lacks supporting scientific documentation, so there was a need to conduct flow testing to determine the amount of water that is possible to flow into an FDC inlet," according to NFPA.

OSHA to Improve Outreach Trainer and Student Cards

OSHA is introducing more durable and secure completion cards for its Outreach Training Program.

An 8.8 magnitude earthquake on Feb. 27, 2010, destroyed this building in Concepcion, Chile.

Chilean Architect Wins Presitigious Pritzker Prize

Alejandro Aravena, 48, and his colleagues helped to rebuild the city of Constitución after a February 2010 earthquake and tsunami devastated the city.

President Obama Proposes Unemployment Insurance Reforms

The plan would ensure workers have access to wage insurance that would replace half of lost wages, up to $10,000 over two years. People out of work who were making less than $50,000 and were with their prior employer for at least three years could use it to help them prepare for a new career.

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