Emergency Response


SAFEX International, based in Switzerland, has 110 members in 46 countries.

SAFEX International Developing Explosives Management Course

The Swiss organization's latest newsletter explains that development of the course is far along. Key issues to be covered have been determined, and the preliminary outline calls for eight modules.

Two Chicago Firefighters Die, 14 Hurt in Wall's Collapse

The Tribune is reporting they were hurt when a wall collapsed during a fire at a South Side abandoned commercial building.

Southern California Catastrophic Earthquake Plan Signed

The OPLAN from the California Emergency Management Agency and the Federal Emergency Management Agency outlines response and recovery following "unthinkable" destruction from an earthquake.

USFA Releases 2009 Fire Estimate Summary Series

The Federal Emergency Management Agency's United States Fire Administration recently issued the 2009 Fire Estimate Summary Series which presents basic information on the size and status of the fire problem in the United States as depicted through data collected in USFA's National Fire Incident Reporting System.

Workers recover oil-filled boom for decontamination as part of the response effort to the Gulf of Mexico oil disaster.

DOJ Sues BP, Transocean, Seven Others in Deepwater Horizon Case

BP, Anadarko, MOEX, Triton, Transocean and QBE companies face Oil Pollution Act and Clean Water Act claims in the civil lawsuit.

Comment Period Under Way for Australia's Model Regs

The deadline to comment on the 582-page document is April 4, 2011, and government safety agencies are urging employers and workers to participate as Australia moves toward harmonized regulations.

From 1965 to 2006, there were about 2.2 million tank car shipments of chlorine, and only 788 accidents involving them occurred.

Many Questions About Railroad Escape Respirator Proposal

The proposal published by the Federal Railroad Administration is unworkable as written because it would require performance that currently approved escape respirators aren't tested for, ISEA and others said in their comments.

The document contains suggested formats and procedures for fall prevention, hazard identification, and more.

Tower Erectors' Group Updates Safety Guide

The updated document, available to NATE members, contains 18 sections. Everything from hazard identification to RF exposure, emergency response, training, and the HazCom Standard is covered.



Cardiac Science AED

AED Mandates Continue to Rise

Oregon requires them for every business of 50,000 square feet or more where the public congregates if it has more than 50 visitors per day. Legislation may be introduced soon in Congress to mandate AEDs in all schools.

Why Big is Beautiful

Why does being part of Honeywell matter? It allows its units to be entrepreneurial and develop dramatically new products, and they can use technologies developed elsewhere in the company.

The Many Faces of Fire Hazards in Industrial Settings

Because damage can be widespread and severe, responders need effective and rapid consequence modeling of the hazardous materials emanating from a fire.

ANSI Report Addresses Emergency Preparedness for Disabilities, Special Needs

For the millions of Americans with special needs, emergencies and natural disasters present a unique challenge, according to the American National Standards Institute Homeland Security Standards Panel. Catastrophic events such as Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and the 9/11 attacks revealed the crucial need for standards and other means of guidance to enhance emergency preparedness for persons with special needs.

Health care ergonomics is the research topic for the inaugural year of the new Human Factors Prize.

FCC Requires More Pinpoint E911 Location Info

A final rule from the agency requires affected wireless carriers to provide more specific automatic location information for emergency calls to Public Safety Answering Points in areas where they have not done so before.

Hong Kong Reports First Case of Avian Flu Since 2003

Hong Kong has reported its first case of the avian influenza since 2003, and the Serious Response Level has been activated.

FDA Launches External Defibrillator Improvement Initiative

Inviting manufacturers to a Dec. 15-16 public workshop, the agency says it intends to facilitate the development of safer, more effective "next-generation" devices.

Topics to be addressed during the event include heat stress solutions, hydration monitoring, cooling, and protection factors.

Top-Notch Responder PPE Conference Coming Next Week

Two units of the federal Technical Support Working Group are hosting PPE Conference 2010 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Nov. 30-Dec. 3. TSWG is the interagency R&D anti-terrorism program.

Prospects Bright, Volt Heads to LA Auto Show

The road trip from GM headquarters in Detroit began Nov. 11, the same day General Electric announced it will buy 12,000 GM electric vehicles, starting with the Volt in 2011.

New Debate Over Administration's Gulf Drilling Ban

The Department of Interior inspector general's investigative report has been posted about whether the May 27 moratorium on deepwater drilling was falsely portrayed as having been peer reviewed by a panel of experts.

Graniteville Residents' Negligence Appeal Fails

A panel of three judges from the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Nov. 5 rejected the appeal from three people who lived 2-5 miles away from the site of the Jan. 6, 2005, chlorine spill.

NFPA Seeks Public Input on New Automotive Ambulance Standard

The purpose of this document is to specify minimum requirements, performance parameters, and essential criteria for the design of ground ambulances.

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