Disaster Preparedness


Millions Participating in Great ShakeOut Drills

The earthquake preparedness activities originated in California and now are taking place in many other countries. Thirteen states including California are taking part Oct. 18.

NFPA Forming Committee for New SCBA Standard

The Standards Council approved in principle a request to proceed with a standard addressing design, use, testing, and certification of SCBAs for emergency response operations that don’t involve structural firefighting.

Australian Oil Industry Strategizes to Withstand Hurricane Season

With thousands of workers and billions of dollars on the line, oil rigs in Australia are being prepared to face the upcoming hurricane season.

Red Cross Groups to Launch Global Disaster Preparedness Center

An Oct. 12 launch event will take place at American Red Cross headquarters in Washington, D.C.

Alan Brown (left), health supervisor for Total Petrochemicals & Refining USA, Inc., received an innovation award from Michel Benezit of Total SA for improving safety while reducing costs. (Total Petrochemicals & Refining photo)

Gas Monitoring Success Stories

Wireless gas detection is a cost-efficient way to improve safety.

Congress Celebrates a Century

NSC describes the Safety Trail in the central aisle of the expo as "a visual journey through corridors of safety milestones from the last century."

Earthquake Forecasting Software Wins NASA Award

The 2012 Software Award was shared by NASA's first mobile app and the QuakeSim software, which models the behavior of earthquake faults to improve earthquake forecasting.

Cruise Industry Adopts Crew Lifeboat Training Policy

During the mandatory training, a lifeboat is filled to capacity with crew members and maneuvered in the water to familiarize them with lifeboat operations.



DOT Trumpets Safety Apps

The agency says the Safety Data Initiative launched in May is bearing fruit, with tools to help home and car buyers, farmers, and law enforcement officers.

Webinar Explores Health Impacts of Severe Drought

The one-hour webinar on Sept. 18 is part of a series presented by CDC, the National Center for Environmental Health/Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, and the American Public Health Association.

Fireworks Manufacturer Fined for Safety Violations

As penalty for an explosion earlier this year injuring three, a fireworks producer faces fines for 31 safety violations.

Earthquake Did Not Alter Monument's Settling

The latest survey of the National Mall shows the 5.8-magnitude earthquake one year ago did not affect how fast the 555-monument is settling. Since 1901, it has settled approximately 2.2 inches.

CSB's Long-Serving Member Joining O'Connor Center

John Bresland, who has served on the U.S. Chemical Safety Board since August 2002, is retiring Aug. 31 to join the Mary Kay O’Connor Process Safety Center as a Research Fellow.

Seattle Tunnel Construction in High Gear

The SR 99 tunnel is moving a portion of the north-south state highway underground. A tunnel launch pit that is 400 feet long and 80 feet deep has been built.

MSHA to Award $1.25 Million in Mine Safety Grants

States and non-profits are invited to apply by Aug. 31 for grants to provide training and training materials on mine emergency preparedness.

Subsea Well Blowout Drill Under Way

Testing well control equipment that would be used to cap a blown well in the ultra-deep Gulf of Mexico, the exercise began July 24 and will last more than a week, BSEE announced.

IAFC Backs Bill Encouraging Faster Adoption of Current Codes

Testimony on Capitol Hill by the organization's first vice president on July 24 supported H.R. 2069, which would add a 4 percent incentive to FEMA's Hazard Mitigation Grant Program to encourage states to adopt the latest building codes.

Counties Feeling Pinched on Transportation Safety

NTSB Member Mark Rosekind pointed this out in a July 20 blog post about his recent speech to the National Association of Counties' Transportation Steering Committee.

NRC Discussing Post Fukushima Actions Next Week

A July 19 National Academy of Sciences committee meeting in Washington, D.C., will be the forum for the agency to discuss its actions on issues raised by the Japanese disaster.

Enbridge CEO: Personnel 'Were Trying to Do the Right Thing'

The Canadian company's chief cites "a series of unfortunate events and circumstances" after NTSB issues a critical report.

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