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Autonomous Railroads? FRA Seeks Input

Among the questions the agency asks are what are the safety and security issues raised by automation in railroad operations at public and private at-grade highway-rail crossings, and to what extent should DOT coordinate with state or local governmental entities on certain safety or security issues.

Study Shows Measures Needed to Protect Workers Opening Fumigated Containers

More than 600 million freight containers are shipped worldwide each year. To prevent damaging the goods, these containers are often treated with pesticides and other agents that have known toxic or irritant properties and can have long-term effects on the cardiovascular and central nervous systems.

Massachusetts Car Auction House Settles OSHA Case

A May 2017 crash killed five workers at the weekly car auction in Billerica, Mass. Lynnway Auto Auction Inc. has agreed to correct hazards, implement significant safety measures, and pay $200,000 in penalties.



MTA Subway Action Plan Funded, Boosting Car Overhaul Rate

The busiest U.S. transit agency will be fully staffing its two car overhaul shops 24/7 and will now fully rehabilitate more than 1,300 cars per year.

Meetings Set on Metal and Nonmetal Mines' Examination Rule

Becoming effective on June 2, 2018, the rule will require that each working place be examined at least once each shift for conditions that may adversely affect safety or health of miners before work begins or as miners begin work in that place.

European Commission Setting New PELs for Five Carcinogens

According to the commission, the new limits would improve working conditions for more than 1 million EU workers and prevent more than 22,000 cases of work-related illness, including cancers.

Stand-Up for Grain Engulfment Prevention Week Under Way

Companies can take part by providing a focused activity or toolbox talk on topics such as lockout/tagout, walk down, fall prevention, permitting, or any other prevention measures.

Two More States' Transit Safety Oversight Programs Certified

Thirty states still must meet the April 2019 deadline. If a state fails to meet the deadline, FTA is prohibited by law from awarding any new federal transit funds to transit agencies within the state until certification is achieved.

GAO photo

GAO Recommends Eliminating Coal Mine Operators' Self-Bonding

GAO found that state agencies and OSMRE report they hold approximately $10.2 billion in surety bonds, collateral bonds, and self-bonds as financial assurances for coal mine reclamation. The stakeholders GAO interviewed identified several challenges OSMRE and state agencies face in managing financial assurances, citing industry bankruptcies and lower coal demand.

Colorado Agencies Open TIM Training Center

While dedicating the facility to all of Colorado's first responders, memorial plaques were presented to the families of CSP Troopers Jaimie Jursevics and Cody Donahue to honor their service and sacrifice on behalf of the residents of Colorado. Both were hit and killed by vehicles during traffic stops on I-25 in Douglas County.

FBI Offers Reward for Capture of Fugitive Mechanic in ValuJet Crash

The FBI is still seeking Mauro Ociel Valenzuela-Reyes, a mechanic who worked for ValuJet Airlines' maintenance contractor, SabreTech. He was facing criminal charges in 1999 following the crash of ValuJet Flight 592 in 1996. Crash investigators determined he had a role in the mishandling and packaging of oxygen generators that were placed in the DC-9's cargo hold.

Do Dangerous Goods Belong on Driverless Vehicles?

Do Dangerous Goods Belong on Driverless Vehicles?

Based on the current state of autonomous vehicles, we presume that while an employee may not “drive” the truck, a “safety engineer,” “operator,” or “attendant” will be in the vehicle during transport. Having a trained hazmat employee in the truck will be critical—at least until the next leap in artificial intelligence.

UK Company Fined for Vibration Exposures

"No one's health should be made worse by the work they do. In this case, if Tai Calon had understood why health surveillance was necessary, it would have ensured that it had the right systems in place to monitor its workers' health," said HSE Inspector Paul Newton.

NNSA Team Wins Project Management Award

The presentation took place during the 2018 DOE Project Management Workshop held in Arlington, Va. The TWF project at Los Alamos National Laboratory is NNSA's first Hazard Category 2 Nuclear Facility project completed under budget.

HELP Committee Sets April 11 Hearing on Opioids Bill

"The opioid crisis is currently our most serious public health epidemic and despite efforts in every state, it's getting worse," Sen. Lamar Alexander said. "We've been listening to the experts for the last six months on how the federal government can help states and communities bring an end to the opioid crisis, and the bipartisan proposals in this draft reflect what we've learned."

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