A posh hotel besieged with panicked employees running for their lives and commandos ringing the buildings. We saw this crisis unfold live; it reminds us that now is the time to refresh employees’ awareness of evacuation and preparedness procedures and their own roles. Do it now!
The focus of the pact is on reducing construction and general industry hazards, including but not limited to falls, electrical operations, ergonomics, bloodborne pathogens, fire safety, egress/exit routes, and evacuation plans.
In close cooperation with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the United States Fire Administration (USFA) recently announced the appointment of two new members to serve on the Board of Visitors (BOV) for the National Fire Academy. Effective Jan. 14, 2009, Randy Novak and Adam Thiel have joined the current BOV members: Helen Johnson, Dr. Sandy Bogucki, Fire Chief Kelvin Cochran, Robert Cumberland, Chris Neal, and Columbus Fire Captain Jack Reall.
Registration is now open for the 2009 Oregon Governor's Occupational Safety and Health (GOSH) Conference, to be held March 9-12 at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland. The largest conference of its kind in the Northwest will feature more than 30 full-day workshops and 115 single-topic classes. It is designed to educate managers and workers about safety and health issues.
The Wall Street Journal reported Friday that Richard Besser, who headed CDC's public health emergency preparedness and response functions, has been named acting director of the agency in place of Dr. Julie Gerberding.
A recent survey by Medical College of Wisconsin researchers of more than 1,800 patients seen in the Froedtert Hospital Emergency Department revealed that Metro Milwaukee residents may not personally be as well prepared for disasters as the rest of the country.
To the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Business Civic Leadership Center, better preparedness is a way to reduce and perhaps minimize damaging business interruptions.
"The world remains a dangerous place and we must keep improving and innovating C-TPAT to secure the global supply chain against acts of terrorism," said Bradd Skinner, C-TPAT director.
This drawing, featured in the FHWA newsletter and credited to MnDOT, depicts the new St. Anthony's Falls Bridge in Minneapolis.
Public transportation to all inaugural events is encouraged as many streets in and around the Capitol and the Mall area and bridges into/out of the city will be closed to private automobiles for much of the day. Metrorail will operate rush-hour service for 17 consecutive hours on Jan. 20, from 4 a.m. to 9 p.m., and will operate on a non-rush hour schedule for two extra hours until 2 a.m.
Federally declared disasters after today are covered by the final rule. Taxpayers who aren't within a covered disaster area are eligible if the records they need to meet a deadline are within the area.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary E. Peters said the final rule will reduce the risk of hazmat spills from train accidents.
OSHA has revised its Field Operations Manual to provide OSHA Compliance Officers with a single source of updated information and guidance to more effectively protect employees from occupational injuries, illnesses, and fatalities.
OSHA published in the Jan. 9, 2009 Federal Register final changes to its Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP) that, among other enhancements, allow participation by companies with mobile workforces. Changes are effective May 9.
In a new video safety message recently released on YouTube, CSB Chairman John Bresland urged companies to ensure they have effective winterization programs to prevent major chemical and refinery process accidents that could result in deaths or substantial property damage.
Atlanta media and public health blogs reported today that Julie Gerberding, head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, was among several top HHS officials whom Secretary Mike Leavitt asked to submit letters of resignation timed for the new Obama administration's arrival.
The U.S. Fire Administration recently announced there were 114 on-duty firefighter fatalities in the United States as a result of incidents that occurred in 2008.
Known as "PS-Prep," the program is intended to raise the level of employer preparedness by making DHS-adopted standards more widely available, among other measures.
Depending upon the scope, complexity, and hazards associated with an incident, FEMA can activate OSHA to coordinate federal worker safety and health resources and technical assistance.
In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Notifier, of Northford, Conn., has announced a voluntary safety recall of about 2,000 Notifier Fire Alarm Control Panels.