Risk Management


John P. Holdren is assistant to President Obama for Science and Technology and a co-chair of PCAST

White House Posts Update on H1N1 Preparedness

The update responds to recommendations from the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, which completed a report on flu readiness that is also on the White House Web site.

Makers of Landscaping Paraphernalia Charged with 142 Violations

Managers at the cited companies in Alabama, Georgia, and Mississippi "have displayed a systemic indifference to the safety and health of their own employees, resulting in a dangerous work environment," said Cindy Coe, OSHA's regional administrator in Atlanta.

FCC to Host Webinar on How Broadband Can Enhance Homeland Security

Two panel discussions are planned, covering use of broadband applications by first responders and the impact of the technology on issues such as cyber security, pandemics, bioterrorism, and critical infrastructure vulnerabilities.

FDA Proposes Mandatory Electronic Safety Reporting

“Both proposed rules will improve the agency’s ability to obtain safety information more quickly, which will help lead to faster identification of potential safety problems,” said David Buckles, Ph.D., director of the Division of Postmarket Surveillance at the FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health.

Oil Spill Planning Failures Cost 3 New England Firms $226,132

Federal law requires that any facility with more than 1,320 gallons of aboveground oil storage capacity and meeting certain other criteria must develop and implement SPCC plans to prevent and contain spills. EPA says it will continue to pay unannounced visits to such facilities throughout the region.

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Business Continuity Site Has the Goods

The new design of Contingency Planning & Management's Web site makes it easy for visitors to find the latest news about schools' and others' preparations for H1N1 flu, along with resources across the full business continuity spectrum.

ASSE Honors 16 Members for Safety Excellence

A committee of peers chose the candidates for their contributions to each of the society’s various practice specialties, covering diverse fields, from academics to transportation.

Alaska Occupational Safety Summit Set for Sept. 22-23

The fourth annual event will offer sessions on occupational safety and health management, OSHA compliance, risk reduction, crisis communication, environmental safety, hazards associated with stress-induced sleep deprivation and fatigue on the job, and more.



7 California Companies Fined for Failing to Report 285 Tons of Hazardous Waste

According to EPA, in 2008, approximately 2,400 companies in the state filed their 2007 biennial hazardous waste reports. These seven did not. The deadline for filing the 2009 report is March 1, 2010.

New Web Site Offers Sleep Apnea Quiz, Information

"If you are frequently tired, your fatigue could mean that you are at greater risk for a number of life-threatening conditions, including cardiovascular disease and high blood pressure,” says Dr. Avi Ishaaya, medical director at the Aviisha Medical Wellness Institute. “Sleep apnea has been directly linked to obesity and weight gain, and many experts believe it is the number one factor for car accidents.”

Renewable Energy's Safety Benefits Praised

"A transition to renewable energy generation utilizing sources such as wind and solar could potentially eliminate 1,300 worker deaths over the coming decade,” one of the researchers said.

Study Warns of Errors in Australia's Electronic Prescribing

Computer-generated prescriptions were completed with an 11.6 percent error rate at a large Brisbane hospital, twice the 5 percent error rate computed for handwritten prescriptions by the same staff employees, it found.

Finer Coal Dust Changes Formula for Preventing Explosions

NIOSH on Aug. 21 said more inert material should be spread in the intake airways of underground bituminous coal mines because coal dust found in those mines today is much finer, and thus more explosive, than in mines of the 1920s.

a tombstone

Solis: 3.6 Fatality Rate Not Good Enough

Although BLS' preliminary total of 5,071 deaths in 2008 means the fatal injury rate for U.S. workers dropped to 3.6 per 100,000 from the previous year's 4.0, celebration may be premature: Delayed processing by state agencies may bump the totals more than in past years, BLS said.

Construction Firm Cited Following Electrocution Death in Texas

Among the citations contributing to the proposed penalties totaling $133,000, the firm is charged with two willful violations for failing to electrically test rubber insulated gloves at intervals not exceeding six months and failing to ensure that workers do not approach energized electrical equipment closer than two feet.

the poster promoting the "Drug Driving: Your Eyes Will Give You Away" campaign features a bloodshot eye

The Eyes Have It in New UK Campaign

"Drug Driving: Your Eyes Will Give You Away" is the theme of a $3.8 million campaign launched Monday by the UK Department of Transport to crack down on drivers who use drugs before getting behind the wheel.

Coast Guard Stresses Use of 'Kill Cords'; 2 Go Overboard Without Them

"There is an endless possibility of things that could have gone wrong here," said Petty Officer 2nd Class John Brooks, a boat coxswain at Coast Guard Station Gloucester. "But most likely they could have been run over by their own boats or their vessels could have collided with other mariners."

Kathleen Sebelius, sworn in as U.S. Health and Human Services secretary April 29, 2009

New Federal Flu Guidelines Out for Employers

Three cabinet secretaries, including HHS' Kathleen Sebelius, urged businesses to plan for absences, encourage employees to be vaccinated, and ensure critical operations are not interrupted.

Trash Bag Manufacturer Cited $49,500 for Unguarded Operation Points

"The safety of workers operating bag conversion machines should not be compromised due to avoidable hazards," said Mark Stelmack, director of OSHA's area office in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., where the investigation was initiated after a complaint was received.

Coast Guard: Boating, Paddling Fatalities On the Rise

"The sad thing about these fatal events is that they're predictable," said Al Johnson, the First District recreational boating specialist. "What is tragic is that most were preventable."

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