Fire Safety


Worker Suffers Burns from Electrical Shock, Manufacturer Fined $91,000

"Allowing workers to come in contact with exposed and energized parts without appropriate personal protective equipment demonstrates a lack of concern for their safety," said George Yoksas, OSHA's area director in Milwaukee.

Safety Partnership Signed for Lambeau Field Expansion

Representatives of OSHA, Miron Construction Co., Inc., and the Green Bay Packers signed the agreement Feb. 27. About 1,600 workers will be involved in the project during the next two years.

Rebuilt Fire House Ready for London Games

The $11.9 million Walthamstow Fire Station replaced a 1920s-era station. It houses an additional fire engine and 20 more firefighters than the old building did.

More than 30 Million Gas Cylinders Recalled

Worthington Cylinders Wisconsin, LLC is voluntarily recalling 29,026,000 Map Pro, Propylene and MAPP Gas Cylinders in the United States and 1,371,100 in Canada.

Gas Station Explosion Leads to Fla. Firms' $77,000 Fine

A delivery driver was refilling an above-ground gasoline storage tank that had a broken gauge. The tank overflowed, and the combination of vapors and heat from the running delivery truck caused an explosion.

Highest-Ranking Female UK Firefighter Promoted

Danielle "Dany" Cotton has been appointed assistant commissioner of the London Fire Brigade’s 7,000-person workforce.

$540,890 in Fines Issued to Three Firms Following Blast at Calif. Plant

The explosion occurred when a pressure vessel containing compressed gas, including oxygen and hydrogen, exploded while the two workers were transferring hydrogen and oxygen gas from one cylinder to another.

Biodiesel Plant Busted for Process Safety Management Deficiencies

After receiving a complaint, OSHA opened an inspection focused on the agency's process safety management standard for facilities that use hazardous chemicals. Proposed fines total $76,500.



Helicopters' Versatility Stands Out at 2012 Heli-Expo

An example is a new "super-medium" category unveiled Feb. 12 by Bell Helicopter with its Bell 525 Relentless, a 16-passenger aircraft designed for mission configurations including oil & gas, search & rescue, EMS, and VIP/corporate transport.

Kentucky Labor Cabinet Rolls Out Online Training

The agency's new training website offers training materials based on its regulations and developed in house. And in the future, the agency will offer training curricula that allow users to earn certificates of completion.

Three Groups Release Statement on Fire Service Suicides

The International Association of Fire Chiefs, National Volunteer Fire Council, and National Fallen Firefighters Foundation urge firefighters and their loved ones to familiarize themselves with tools and resources that can help.

ISEA: High-Vis Public Safety Vests Meet FHWA Requirements for Work Zones

Public safety workers such as law enforcement, firefighters, and other emergency responders have the option of wearing high-visibility vests specifically designed for their use and compliant with the ANSI/ISEA 207, American National Standard for High-Visibility Public Safety Vests.

Gas Furnaces Recalled for the Second Time

The Feb. 3 recall notice for about 223,600 Coleman, Coleman Evcon, and Red T gas furnaces stems from an overheating problem that can cause a fire.

New ASSE Podcasts Highlight Variety of Workplace Safety Topics

The free podcasts on a variety of occupational safety, health, and environmental topics are available at ASSE’s virtual classroom.

NYC's Mayor Proposes Pension Reform

Saying city-funded pension costs have risen from $1.3 billion in FY2002 to $8.0 billion in FY2013, Mayor Michael Bloomberg called for action to address "a ticking time bomb in rising pension costs."

$58,800 in Penalties Issued to Scranton Dunlop Inc.

OSHA's Wilkes-Barre, Pa. area office inspected the Scranton facility as part of the Site-Specific Targeting Program for industries with high injury and illness rates.

Council Unanimously Backs New Minneapolis Fire Chief

John Fruetel starts March 1. He spent 31 years as a Minneapolis before retiring as assistant chief in 2010 and serving at the city's emergency preparedness training manager.

Worker's Burning at Metal Finishing Plant Leads to $51,680 Fine

On Sept. 20, flammable vapors ignited in a storage room holding more than 800 gallons of flammable liquids, and a plant employee who tried to extinguish the fire sustained burns that were not life-threatening.

DARPA Demonstrates New Fire-Suppression Method

Using electromagnetic fields and acoustics techniques to destabilize flame plasma worked on small flames, but large-scale suppression has yet to be demonstrated, the program manager said.

Study: Obesity Rate for Firefighters 'Higher than General Public'

Rates of overweight and obese individuals in the fire service are higher than those found in the general public, ranging from 73 percent to 88 percent of firefighters, according to the study.

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