Top News


EPA Releases MDI, TDI Action Plans to Protect Consumers

“There has been an increase in recent years in promoting the use of foams and sealants by do-it-yourself energy-conscious homeowners, and many people may now be unknowingly exposed to risks from these chemicals,” said Steve Owens, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention.

From farm to fork, the new food safety law puts new emphasis on contamination prevention.

FDA Meeting Focused on Controls for Food Facilities

The agency is offering a webcast of the April 20 event, which is part of its outreach to help food facilities and entities meet the requirements of the Food Safety Modernization Act.

Capt. Lee Moak began a four-year term as ALPA president on Jan. 1, 2011.

ALPA Wants Tighter Controls for Lithium Batteries

They are still allowed to be flown on cargo aircraft, the union's president reminded a congressional subcommittee April 12.



FDA Clears Single-Use Antibacterial N95 Surgical Respirator

The Food and Drug Administration cleared the SpectraShield 9500 N95 surgical respirator, a device that kills 99.99 percent of three different kinds of bacteria when exposed to its outer surface. The single-use, N95 surgical respirator is designed for use in health care settings by health care personnel to protect against microorganisms, body fluids, and particulate material.

USFA Releases Restaurant Building Fires Report

The United States Fire Administration issued a special report today examining the characteristics of restaurant building fires. The report, titled "Restaurant Building Fires," was developed by USFA's National Fire Data Center and is based on 2007 to 2009 data from the National Fire Incident Reporting System.

Seating Company Slapped with $117,600 in Fines for Combustible Dust, Health Hazards

In addition to the combustible dust hazards, among 32 serious violations cited are failing to provide a lockout/tagout system to control the release of hazardous energy, ensure exits were unblocked, and protect employees from electrical and chemical hazards.

Fridge Icemakers Devour Kilowatts: NIST

The amount of energy they use and what most of that energy is not used for are surprising. Refrigerators account for 8 percent of total energy use by 111 million U.S. households, according to DOE, which helped to fund this research.

FDA said it decided the 3.0 kGy dose in fresh shell eggs is safe for consumers.

FDA Denies Hearing on Egg Irradiation Rule

The agency rejected all 26 opposing comments it received, including a letter from Public Citizen that FDA addressed point by point.

Marine Transportation Firm Cited for Slew of Safety Hazards

OSHA’s inspection, which began Oct. 4, 2010, found serious violations including the company’s failure to dike a fuel tank, ensure the bi-directional alarm on a powered industrial truck was not defective, and examine industrial trucks before they were put in service.

FMCSA Issues Hundreds of Citations in Enforcement Sweep

The coordinated enforcement strike force issued out-of-service violation citations to 156 drivers and 262 vehicles.

FAA Assigns More Personnel to Air Traffic Control Night Shifts

FAA is taking this action after an incident at Reno-Tahoe International Airport when a controller fell asleep while a medical flight carrying an ill patient was trying to land.

The December 2010 compliance directive said 1926.501(b)(13) would be interpreted as written.

7th Circuit Upholds OSHA Fall Protection Directive

And the panel's reasoning in the April 7 decision offers support for the hearing protection reinterpretation OSHA recently withdrew.

SAMHSA Reorients Block Grant Programs

The new approach aims the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grants and the Community Mental Health Services Block Grants to aid millions of currently uninsured Americans who will be covered beginning in 2014 because of the Affordable Care Act.

A tobacco-free world by 2040? The NCD Alliance favors it.

Calls Grow Louder to Address Non-Communicable Diseases

Advocates for the You're the Cure campaign lobbied Congress April 12 for more funding targeting heart disease and stroke. The Lancet's NCD Action Group and the NCD Alliance published a statement calling for a tobacco-free world by 2040.

Two Coal Mines Receive POV Notices

They are the first to receive full enforcement action until this section of the Mine Act, according to MSHA, which said its reinspections of 10 mines earlier this year found only these two had increased S&S violation rates.

Diesel Engine Filters Reduce Cardiovascular Disease Risk: AHA

The particle trap removed about 98 percent of all particles in the diesel exhaust and 99.8 percent of the smallest and most damaging particles (less than one micrometer).

Failure-to-Abate Notices Add Up to $112,530 in Fines for N.J. Firm

OSHA initiated an inspection on Oct. 21, 2011, in response to a complaint alleging that the employer had not abated safety and health violations cited on July 14, 2010.

Featured

Artificial Intelligence