Facility Safety


Houston Hacker Gets Year in Prison for Hijacking Data

According to the Justice Department, the man connected to his former employer’s computer network from his home and recklessly caused damage by inputting various Oracle database commands. He also copied and saved to his home computer a database file containing personal information on the GEXA Energy customers, including names, billing addresses, social security numbers, dates of birth and drivers license numbers.

Fire Prevention Week 2010 will focus on smoke alarms.

NFPA Sounds Alarm for Fire Prevention Week 2010

This year's campaign theme, "Smoke Alarms: A sound you can live with," emphasizes the importance of smoke alarms in preventing fire deaths, injuries, and property loss.

OSHA is soliciting applications for $2.75 million in Susan Harwood Targeted Topic Training Grants.

$2.75 Million in Susan Harwood Training Grants Up for Grabs

For fiscal year 2010, the program offers 28 targeted topic areas including crane safety, combustible dust, maritime, oil and gas, and eye safety.

OSHA Unveils Dedicated Website for Whistleblowers

"OSHA doesn't work unless workers feel secure in exercising their rights," said Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA David Michaels. "This Web page is part of OSHA's promise to stand by those workers who have the courage to come forward when they know their employer is cutting corners on safety and health."

NFPA Issues Safety Alert on Antifreeze in Residential Sprinklers

Based on testing conducted, 70/30 percent glycerin and 60/40 percent propylene glycol antifreeze may provide an unacceptable risk of harm to occupants in certain types of fire scenarios, in particular kitchen grease fires.

OSHA Files Complaint against 350 Postal Facilities

The move marks the first time the department has sought enterprise-wide relief as a remedy.

DHS announced a new national information-sharing partnership with Amtrak as part of the Nationwide Suspicious Activity Reporting Initiative.

DHS Launches 'See Something, Say Something' Campaign

"Implementing a national suspicious activity reporting partnership with Amtrak and expanding the 'See Something, Say Something' campaign strengthens our ability to guard against terrorism and crime," said Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano.

Imperial Sugar has settled litigation stemming from the 2008 explosion at its Georgia plant in which 14 people died.

Imperial Sugar Settles with OSHA, Agrees to Pay $6.05 Million

As part of the settlement, the company agrees that it has corrected all deficiencies at both of its plants or will correct those deficiencies according to a set schedule. Originally, OSHA fined the company $8.8 million following the 2008 explosion that took 14 lives and seriously injured dozens of others at its plant in Port Wentworth, Ga.



NYC Building Projects Affected by New Energy Code

The Department of Buildings has launched the New York City Energy Conservation Code, part of the city's plan to cut carbon emissions by 30 percent by 2030. Lighting, power, and HVAC in new projects or renovations must comply.

Workshop to Investigate Impacts of Indoor Air Contaminants, Lead Paint

The half-day event will focus specifically on damage to building contents that can result from airborne contaminants and the ramifications to contractors of EPA’s Renovation, Repair, and Painting rule.

CVS Signs Mediation Agreement to Handle Potential Workplace Disputes

The mediation partnership marks the 200th such national or regional agreement between EEOC and a large employer (mainly Fortune 500 companies) and bolsters a multi-year trend of corporate America signing on to such Alternative Dispute Resolution programs.

Parts of Dust Standard Likely to Be Retroactive

The OSHA Combustible Dust Team's web chat with more than 400 stakeholders also gave some idea of the timetable for the combustible dust standard that will be developed.

Concrete Mixing Equipment Firm Fined $59,775 for Hazardous Waste

“Industries that fail to properly manage their hazardous wastes can pose serious risks to the health and safety of their employees because improper disposal of those wastes can cause serious harm to the environment,” said EPA Regional Administrator Karl Brooks.

ASSE: Safe Parading Requires Planning, No Stallions

Among other things, the society recommends that the proceedings be an “all forward motion” event with planned distances between parade entries, and that there be no stopping along the parade route.

Firm Reveals Ingredients for Successful Shiftworkers

Hirers might be surprised, but sometimes the difference between those who quit after one month on the job and those who stay for 20 years is having the availability of and sharing the right information about shiftwork when they are hired.

Manufacturing Firm Fined $118,750 for Hexavalent Chromium, Other Hazards

The GISHD inspection identified numerous violations of the following MIOSHA standards: hexavalent chromium, dipping and coating operations, asbestos, formaldehyde, and noise. The most serious violations involved employee overexposures to highly hazardous air contaminants.

EPA Takes Wind Out of Texas' Air Permit Program, Steams Governor

The agency determined the state's 16-year-old plan allows companies to avoid certain federal clean air requirements by lumping emissions from multiple units under a single "cap" rather than setting specific emission limits for individual pollution sources at their plants.

PETCO to Pay $145,000 for Discriminating against Deaf Pet Stylist

A store manager eventually refused to schedule customers for the groomer, despite their specific requests for her, and other employees inaccurately informed customers that she no longer worked for the company as a means to funnel them to non-disabled pet groomers, according to EEOC.

Leadership Through the Clouds

Companies need both Clocker and Cloud leaders, often operating at different organizational levels.

The New Safety U

Loyola University Chicago recently became the first university to launch an electronic pre-plan program for fire emergencies.

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