Facility Safety


OSHA Sends Notice to 15,000 High-Injury Workplaces

"Employers whose businesses have injury and illness rates this high need to take immediate steps to protect their workers," said OSHA head Dr. David Michaels.

FAA Official Receives Life Achievement Award for Runway Safety Contributions

Rick Marinelli joined FAA in 1992 and now serves as manager of its Airport Engineering Division, responsible for programs relating to runway and taxiway geometry, airport airspace analysis, airport winter operations, design standards for airport facilities and equipment, airport pavements, airport lighting and electrical systems, and airport safety data.

CSB Issues Safety Bulletin on Welding, Hot Work Hazards

“Hot work around flammable gas or vapor is one of the most common causes of worker deaths that we see at the Chemical Safety Board,” said CSB Board Member William B. Wark.

OSHA Orders Technology Firm to Rehire Whistleblower, Pay Him $600K

The agency's investigation substantiated the employee's complaint that his job duties were systematically removed and his paychecks were delayed and ultimately stopped after he questioned the accuracy of several statements made in the company's SEC filings.

Nuclear Regulatory Commission member Dale Klein

NRC Commissioner Wants 'More Balanced' Security Approach

Pressure on the industry to achieve a zero risk level is wrongheaded because it is not attainable in the real world, Dale Klein, a Nuclear Regulatory Commission member, told attendees Friday in Raleigh, N.C., at the Grand Challenge Summit 2010.

Fingersticks as part of health screenings are increasingly common

Study Examines Employer Benefits, Drawbacks of Blood-Drawing Methods

"One may think that fingersticks are selected more frequently because they cost less; however, that isn't necessarily true," says white paper author Richard Penington. "Likewise, some believe that the venous blood draw gives results that are more accurate because the blood is sent to a lab for testing. That's also not necessarily true."

Another Big Fine, $3,042,000, Issued to BP

Under a pair of 50/50 joint ventures with Husky Energy, BP operates the 91-year old Toledo Refinery near Toledo, Ohio, that processes crude from Canadian oil sands into gasoline and other products.

HSE Issues New Asbestos Removal Survey Guidelines

The new guidance does away with the old Survey Type 1, 2, and 3, replacing those with the more comprehensive Management Survey and Refurbishment and Demolition Survey.



The 2010 Patient Safety Awareness Week is focused on "Healthy Conversations for Safer Healthcare."

Hospitals Focused on Patient Safety This Week

This year's Patient Safety Awareness Week has the tagline "Let's Talk: Healthy Conversations for Safer Healthcare."

USDA Launches Initiative to Improve Mississippi River Water Quality

Among the most significant challenges facing the river is the runoff of excess nutrients from manure and commercial fertilizer, specifically nitrogen and phosphorus.

Peter Rogoff is administrator of the Federal Transit Administration, part of DOT.

U.S. Transit Administrator Exposes WMATA's Flaws

A safety culture in shambles is what Peter Rogoff said exists inside the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, but he put it more nicely when he said its Safety Department "has been dysfunctional and ineffective."

New Study Details Ways to Avoid Combustible-Cloud Explosions

Among the products considered most likely to lead to the danger of an explosion or fire are zinc and other metallic powders, wheat flour and other food products, and certain plastics and resins. In all of these cases, if unprotected, normal processing steps can produce enough static electricity to ignite a dust cloud.

DOE Secretary Spells Out Los Alamos Safety Changes

Secretary Steven Chu listed them in a Feb. 2 letter to John E. Mansfield, vice chairman of the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board.

OSHA Presses Printing Plant for Improvements, Fines Facility $62,350

Specifically, the agency found instances of improper transfer and storage of flammable liquids; lack of specific lockout/tagout procedures and training to prevent the unintended startup of machines during maintenance; lack of hearing protection; inadequate respirator training, fit-testing, medical evaluation, inspection, and maintenance; unguarded grinders; and more.

Raise Your Productivity

Technologies have radically changed our lives, but our environments haven't kept up the same pace to ensure a healthy and productive workplace.

Preventing Leadership CTDs

Think that companies only suffer cumulative trauma disorders (CTDs) to their workers' backs, arms, and shoulders? Arguably, most professionals think of CTDs as physical problems — usually, strains and sprains. We explain in our injury-prevention work these ergonomic issues are like metal fatigue, akin to repetitively bending a piece of steel. One or a few creases may seem insignificant, but multiple bends can weaken, then eventually break, even the strongest superalloy. In the same vein, strawthat- broke-the-camel's-back leadership problems can contribute to organizational breakdown.

Building Supply Firm Completes New Certification Program

The Dual Evaluation and Certification Program with UL and ICC-ES was launched in December 2009 to help building manufacturers show compliance with standards and codes through one point of contact.

A Focus on Workwear takes place March 12 in NY

Textile & Apparel Industry Invited to 'Focus on Workwear'

The roundtable discussion will include opinions and insights from panelists representing Carhartt, Glen Raven Technical Fabrics, and Old Toledo Brands.

Idaho Plant's Safety Record Generates 'Star' Power

"This facility has not experienced an injury resulting in lost time in the last four years," noted Richard S. Terrill, OSHA's regional administrator. "Their outstanding efforts have included significant management commitment and employee involvement."

CSB Urges Gas Utilities to Avoid 'Gas Blows'

Investigations Supervisor Don Holmstrom briefed reporters today about the investigation so far into the Feb. 7 Kleen Energy explosion, which has claimed six lives.

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