International Safety


EU-OSHA's Healthy Workplace Campaign Grows to 17 Partners

GE, Air Liquide, and Eli Lilly are among the eight newcomers to sign on to the campaign organized by the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work. The campaign aim to reduce work-related injuries and illnesses by focusing on risk assessment.

electronic waste

EU e-Waste Directive Unchanged

The European Commission decided Dec. 3 to table a review of the EU Directive on Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment, which aims to increase the reuse and recycling of electronic waste. Electronic equipment manufacturers fear reopening the directive will make them pay for household collection.

National Influenza Vaccination Week Begins Today

To help raise awareness regarding the seriousness of influenza and the importance of annual vaccination throughout the influenza season the Department of Health and Human Services, National Influenza Vaccine Summit, Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and other partners are conducting activities during the third annual National Influenza Vaccination Week, starting today and running through Dec. 14, 2008.

Ontario Nurses Release Workplace Violence Prevention Guideline

A team of nurses and other health experts spent the past two years identifying the strongest research evidence and developing recommendations to address verbal, emotional and physical acts of aggression and violence that could be perpetrated by health-care professionals, patients or patients' family members.

EPA, FDA Conclude Genetically Engineered Cotton Incident Poses No Risk

The United States government recently announced that there is no food or feed safety concern from an incident in which a small portion of an unauthorized genetically engineered (GE) cotton variety was harvested along with commercially available GE cotton.

Study Explores Light Exposure Therapy Effectiveness for Shift Workers

A new study finds the use of light exposure therapy, dark sunglasses, and a strict sleep schedule can help night-shift workers create a "compromise circadian phase position," which may result in increased performance and alertness during night shifts while still allowing adequate nighttime sleep on days off.

HSE Launches Health, Safety Strategy

Britain's Health and Safety Executive (HSE) announced on Dec. 3 the launch of a consultation on its new strategy: "The Health and Safety of Great Britain -- Be Part of the Solution."

AAOS Offers Snow Shoveling Safety Tips

The mundane seasonal chore of snow shoveling combines heavy lifting and cold weather can result in possible injuries to the back, shoulder muscles if shovelers do not take the proper precautions, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS).



FDA, WebMD Form Public Health Information Partnership

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and WebMD have announced a collaboration that expands consumers' access to the agency's timely and reliable important health information. This joint effort reflects FDA's emphasis on using innovative, technology-based strategies to carry out its foremost mission, which is to promote and to protect the public health.

Noise, Vibration Controls Available to Most Australian Workers

But 17 percent of workers in the first-ever National Hazard Exposure Worker Surveillance survey said their employers do nothing to shield them from loud noise on the job, and 22 percent said nothing is done to dampen vibration of equipment or vehicles to which they are exposed.

Researchers Identify Age-Related Hearing Loss Gene

Presbycusis, or age-related hearing loss, accounts for 30 percent of all hearing loss, according to a recent online study release in the journal Human Molecular Genetics.

Tata Motors factory in Pune, India

BBS Winning Over Employees in India

A professor who has conducted nearly 200 behavior-based safety workshops at Indian industrial companies during the past 15 years reports BBS has increased safety, improved accident prevention practices, and raised the safety culture of the fast-growing country's manufacturing sector.

A collage of the various ways to transport freight.

Freight Shipments Reached a Record High in 2007

For the year, nearly 606 million tons of goods were freighted through U.S. land borders, airports, and seaports to and from locations in Canada and Mexico, according to DOT statistics. Trucks was the largest modal increase in shipment value from 2006 to 2007--$21 billion, followed by rail (up $9 billion), and pipeline (up $4 billion).

A lady pulling her luggage behind her in an airport terminal.

AAOS Offers Some Ergonomic Travel Safety Tips

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) has recommendations to help you carry your baggage safely as holiday travel season gets underway.

DuPont Recalls Heavy Duty Acidic Cleaner Due to Leaking Cap

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with DuPont, of Wilmington, Del., has announced a voluntary recall of DuPont's Heavy Duty Acidic Cleaner bottles. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

An image of a stethoscope on a blue background.

HHS Issues Final Rule for Patient Safety Organizations

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has issued a final rule for Patient Safety Organizations (PSOs).

OSHA Cites Florida Transportation Services Following Employee Deaths

OSHA has cited Florida Transportation Services for one willful and four serious safety violations. In May, three employees died after entering a cargo hold filled with argon gas.

Spanish-Language Health Guides Aimed at Workers Older Than 50

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality has released two new checklists to help Spanish-speaking men and women older than age 50 keep track of when they should have potentially life-saving screening exams done.

Underwriters Laboratories Offers Safe Shopping Tips

Underwriters Laboratories, a leading product safety organization, is urging families to focus on safety when purchasing gifts this holiday season. Although families may spend less this year, consumers shouldn't skimp on safety.

Survey Finds Avian Flu Could Cause Drop in U.S. Poultry Market

If a case of avian flu is discovered in a United States poultry flock, it's likely that poultry consumption would decline and the level of decline would also be likely to vary in different parts of the nation, according to a survey by Kansas State University.

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