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Research was completed at the new Dow Northeast Technology Center, shown here, using an in-house noise mapping tool to complete a baseline sound level assessment. (Dow Chemical photo)

Assessing High-Noise Areas

Industrial hygienists are challenged to protect employees from noise exposure in all types of work environments, including variable conditions. This project completed a baseline noise assessment at the Dow Northeast Technology Center’s mechanical areas.

Companies often send out an all-staff email if bad weather is predicted, but would employees really know what to do in a serious emergency, be it related to nature or man-made?

Providing Psychological First Aid Following a Disaster

PFA doesn't rely on skills of a professional mental health provider, but rather, engages the skills that most of us already have.

Now is the perfect time for employers to review their HazCom program. (J.J. Keller & Associates photo)

All In for Chemical Safety!

Workplace labels must include the product identifier and general information regarding all of the hazards of the chemical(s).



The Baltimore Convention Center is hosting AIHce 2016, taking place May 21-26. (Visit Baltimore photo)

Baltimore Beckons

This year's AIHce conference will be year five for the wildly popular Ignite sessions, which are five-minute talks on pretty much any IH topic.

Dry Media Dust Collectors vs. Wet Scrubbers: Two Technologies for Combustible Dust Control

At first glance, wet scrubbers may appear to be preferable because they inherently control the combustibility of a dust.

Do consider using SMART goals in training program implementation. In addition to SMART goals, stronger training programs may also address a behavior change and/or enhancement and establish behavioral objectives.

Best Practices for Engaging Workers in Health and Safety Training

Provide relevant consequences. Consequences will assist in showing your workers what is in it for them.

Figure 1. Organizations that create a culture of safety by incorporating senior leaders, a facility coordinator, an emergency response team, and the general workforce into their emergency response plans have a much higher rate of success when responding to emergencies.

Is Your Emergency Response Plan a Living System or Just Gathering Dust?

Use these practical tips and best practices to create and maintain an effective emergency response plan. Frequent practice drills are essential.

Many companies incorporate a wear trial into their process for selecting FR apparel. Both Lippert and Zumstein cautioned that a hazard risk assessment is a necessary step to take before conducting a wear trial. (Glen Raven Technical Fabrics, LLC photo)

Lasting Protection

A hazard risk assessment is a necessary step to take before conducting a wear trial. Only when the risk assessment is completed should the customer conduct a wear trial of fabrics that will meet the anticipated energy levels.

The OSHA/NIOSH toolkit contains an appendix that is an editable document any hospital can use to draw up its respiratory protection program.

Essential Precautions for Health Care, General Industry

CDC's Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee divides ATDs into those two categories, diseases requiring Airborne Precautions and diseases requiring Droplet Precautions.

By June 1, 2016, OSHA expects all employers to be fully compliant with GHS adoption.

American Coatings Association Pushing for TSCA Reform Bills

ACA has supported two bills: the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act, S. 697, which passed the U.S. Senate on Dec. 17, 2015, and a House of Representatives bill, H.R. 2576, which passed June 23, 2015, on a 398-1 vote.

"It was quite startling to see" the 2014 increase in the U.S. fatality rate for workers 55 and older, with 1,691 occupational deaths in this group, AFL-CIO Director of Safety and Health Peg Seminario said in April 2016.

Older Workers' Risks Highlighted in AFL-CIO's 2016 Report

Other high-risk work groups cited in the report are oil and gas extraction workers (144 deaths in 2014), health care workers who may face workplace violence hazards (765 occupational fatalities in 2014 were attributed to workplace violence), and Latino workers (804 deaths in 2014 and a fatality rate of 3.7 per 100,000 workers).

ERG2016 Now Available

PHMSA will distribute more than 1.5 million free copies of the guidebook to firefighters, emergency medical technicians, and law enforcement officers nationwide -- the goal is to have one in every public service vehicle across the country.

NFPA 70E-2015 specifically defines ear canal inserts (ear plugs) as the required protection in all arc flash zones.

Oregon OSHA Offering On-Site Consultation During National Stand-Down

Last year's national stand-down reached more than 2.5 million workers and federal OSHA's goal is to reach 5 million workers this year.

HHS Supporting Clinical Study of Zika Virus Blood Screening Test

"BARDA staff has worked closely with our partners at FDA and the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Health to ensure the continuity and safety of the U.S. blood supply," said Dr. Richard Hatchett, BARDA's acting director. "Today's award to Roche is an important step towards securing the safety of the blood supply in Puerto Rico and in the rest of the United States."

The Public Safety Analytics R&D Roadmap is a report evaluating software, network, and device technologies that could improve public safety response, communications, and operations during the next 20 years. The roadmap will guide planning for public safety communications research, including how to allocate the $300 million NIST is to receive from the 2015 AWS-3 spectrum auction.

Commerce Releases Public Safety Analytics R&D Roadmap

It is a report evaluating software, network, and device technologies that could improve public safety response, communications, and operations during the next 20 years. The roadmap will guide planning for public safety communications research, including how to allocate the $300 million NIST is to receive from the 2015 AWS-3 spectrum auction.

The Toyota Mirai is equipped with a nickel metal hydride hybrid battery, two carbon fiber-reinforced hydrogen tanks with safety shut-off valves, and a hydrogen monitoring system with leak detection sensors. (Toyota photo)

NFPA Alerts Responders to Be Ready for Toyota's Mirai

The new hydrogen fuel car is now available for use on California roads. It and other alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs) are challenging for the fire service and emergency responders.

Corvallis, Ore.-based VDOS Global uses aerial robotics and remote sensing to provide oil and gas inspections, environmental research, aerial surveying and other services using for its clients around the world. (VDOS image)

Senate Passes FAA Reauthorization Bill

Leaders of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee said the bill reauthorizing FAA through FY2017 contains provisions to encourage the responsible use of drones. For example, Section 2134 of the bill would prohibit drone users from interfering with emergency response activities and would raise civil penalties to a maximum of $20,000 for violation of the law.

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