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NIOSH Reaches Twitter Milestone, Wants Nano Input

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health's Twitter page has passed 100,000 followers. Until April 15, NIOSH is accepting comments on how to enhance current nanotechnology research.

FDA Launches Consumer-Friendly Web Search

Consumers can now search for food and other product recalls easier and quicker on the Food and Drug Administration's website as search results now provide data from news releases and other recall announcements in the form of a table. That table organizes information from news releases on recalls since 2009 by date, product brand name, product description, reason for the recall and the recalling firm.

Hepatitis B Vaccine's Inventor Memorialized

The vaccine was created in 1969 and patented three years later. It has saved millions of people around the world. Dr. Baruch Blumberg, who discovered the hepatitis B virus, died April 5 in California.



Chesar helps registrants complete Chemical Safety Assessments for the different uses of a substance as they prepare Chemical Safety Reports.

EU Agency Releases New Chemical Safety Assessment Tool

The European Chemicals Agency made the 1.1.3 version of Chesar available as a free download on April 6. It allows registrants to create full Chemical Safety Reports.

Workplace Design Changes Help Employees Keep Weight Off, Study Says

Researchers found that simple, low-cost interventions — for example, encouraging workers to take the stairs and making healthy options available in vending machines — helped to avoid employee weight gain.

Products Bearing BioPreferred Labels in Stores Soon

USDA identified the first 60 products independently certified to meet the program's standards for consisting wholly or significantly of agricultural ingredients -- renewable plant, animal, marine or forestry materials. About 400 products have been submitted in the first three months.

Offshore Drilling Nations Meeting April 14

U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar announced the Ministerial Forum on Offshore Drilling Containment and said 13 countries and the European Union had been invited to send representatives.

The dots inside the oval in this U.S. map indicate earthquakes that took place within the New Madrid seismic zone.

Quake Evaluators Assessing New Madrid Risks April 16

With a whole lotta shakin' going on this month about earthquake preparedness, the USGS National Earthquake Prediction Evaluation Council will meet in Memphis -- part of the New Madrid seismic zone.

South Dakota Grain Engulfment Brings $378,000 in Fines

At least 26 U.S. workers were killed in grain entrapments last year, and the numbers of entrapments are increasing, according to researchers at Purdue University.

Basketball had the highest risk of sudden cardiac death, with a rate of one in 11,394.

Sudden Cardiac Death in NCAA Athletes Higher than Previously Believed

Basketball had the highest risk of sudden cardiac death, with a rate of one in 11,394. Swimming had the second-highest risk, followed by lacrosse, football, and cross-country track.

Propane Tank Firm Cited Following Forklift Fatality

OSHA cited the company for 19 safety violations following the October 2010 death of a worker who was ejected and crushed after the forklift he was operating overturned.

NFPA Establishes Sprinkler Antifreeze Requirements

An updated Safety Alert from the National Fire Protection Association addresses the use of antifreeze in new and existing occupancies. It replaces July and August 2010 Alerts that said antifreeze shouldn't be used in residential sprinklers.

Free Webinar Covers ADA Changes

Two lawyers from Ballard Spahr's Labor and Employment Group are presenting a one-hour webinar April 7 discussing how employers should prepare for the new guidance and regulations taking effect May 24.

MSHA Assistant Secretary Joe Main

Deadline Extended for Comments on POV Changes

MSHA proposed to revise its Pattern of Violations regulation on Feb. 2, and the changes it wants to make are a priority for Assistant Secretary Joe Main. Stakeholders now have until April 18 to submit comments.

JCR Hosting Hospital Emergency Preparedness Conference

The April 27-28 event in Arlington, Va. administrators meet The Joint Commission's hospital accreditation standards and develop effective collaborative plans for emergency events.

New Federal Guidelines on Preventing Catheter-Related Infections

Following them can improve patient safety and reduce medical costs. Such infections are now considered largely preventable, experts say.

DOT Announces New Plan to Repair Aging Pipelines

Following several fatal pipeline accidents, including one that killed five people in Allentown, Pa., Ray LaHood called upon U.S. pipeline owners and operators to conduct a comprehensive review of their oil and gas pipelines to identify areas of high risk and accelerate critical repair and replacement work.

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