Fire Safety


OSHA to Take-Out Container Maker: Time for Hazards 'To Go'

Eighteen serious violations include failing to maintain emergency lighting in the warehouse, provide employees exposed to noise hazards with proper training and monitoring, provide written operating procedures for the foam extrusion system.

False Alarms Count Remains High

The latest NFPA Fire Analysis and Research Division report covers 2010 false alarm activity: a total of 2,187,000 responses, up 0.4 percent from 2009.

NFPA Releases Standard on Gas Purging

NFPA 56 (PS) prohibits using flammable gas as a cleaning agent to clean out pipes. NFPA announced it in Middletown, Conn., where a February 2010 explosion involving a "gas blow" killed six workers at the Kleen Energy Power Plant.

USFA Releases Annual Report on Firefighter Fatalities in U.S.

Eighty-seven on-duty firefighters from 31 states lost their lives as the result of 83 fatal incidents that occurred in 2010.

Washington Labor Dept. Investigating Two Fatal Electrocutions

Most high-voltage deaths in Washington do not involve power line workers, but rather people whose jobs place them near power lines, such as construction workers, roofers, tree trimmers, agriculture workers, truck drivers, or mobile equipment operators.

Georgia Lumber Firm Nailed for Chain Saw, Machine Guarding Hazards

Charles Greer Lumber Co. has been cited by OSHA for 18 safety and health violations following an April inspection of the company's plant in Suwanee, Ga. Penalties total $87,780.

Londoners Watch Firefighters Compete

The host London Fire Brigade invited the general public to watch the largest UK firefighter competition of the year and to learn about keeping themselves and others safe from fires.

OSHA Blasts N.Y. Supermarket for Locking Night Shift Workers in Building

"Our inspection found that all five exit doors were locked at night and could not be unlocked without a manager's permission. These workers were essentially caged and that is completely unacceptable," said Kay Gee, OSHA's area director based in Manhattan.



CPSC Concludes Drywall Investigation, Promises Standards

The agency said it will work with voluntary standards organizations to prevent this type of problem from happening again.

OSHA Serves Scoop of Fines to Ice Cream Maker for Automation Hazards

The violations involve uncorrected deficiencies in ammonia processing equipment, not developing and implementing safe work practices for all mechanical and maintenance tasks, and incomplete written standard operating procedures.

NFPA: Number of Fires Down, But Deaths Up in 2010

These fires caused an estimated 3,120 civilian fire deaths, a four percent increase from a year ago, and an estimated 17,720 civilian fire injuries, also a four percent increase from the previous year.

A+A 2011 On Record Pace

A record 1,580 exhibitors have booked 617,800 square feet of exhibit space for the Oct. 18-21 trade show and the Congress for Safety and Health at Work.

Cause of Norwegian Cruise Ship Fire Still Unclear

The MS Nordlys, operated by Hurtigruten ASA, has been moved to a shipyard to undergo repairs after a Sept. 15 fire. The operator says four other ships equipped with the same engine are continuing their cruises.

OSHA Nails Three Marine Corps Contractors for Crane, Trenching Hazards

OSHA cited the contractors for safety hazards after a worker received burns from an electrical shock during the installation of a new landfill gas processing and compression facility at the U.S. Marine Corps Logistic Base in Albany, Ga.

Tyco Splitting Fire and Security Businesses

The board has voted to divide into three independent businesses. One will be a commercial fire and security company with about $10 billion in annual revenue and 69,000 employees.

Explosion Hazards Lead to ExxonMobil's $126,600 Fine

The serious violations involve failing to investigate incidents as being related to process safety management and address inconsistent thickness measurements collected during pressure vessel inspections.

$917,000 Penalty Issued to Massachusetts Company

OSHA said Bostik Inc., an adhesives manufacturer, did not follow proper process safety management procedures for handling large amounts of hazardous chemicals -- acetone, in this case.

Party Rental Firm Fined $154,000 for Plethora of Safety Violations

Two willful violations involve failing to train employees in the use of powered industrial trucks and causing a potential electrocution hazard by providing damaged extension cord sets to be used in wet locations without ground fault circuit interruption protection.

USPS Puts Lithium Battery Limits on Hold

The U.S. Postal Service has withdrawn a rule that would have set new limits on outbound mailing of lithium batteries to international, or APO, FPO or DPO locations to await action by the ICAO Dangerous Goods Panel.

NFPA Cites Safety Improvements Rising from 9/11

Communications and interoperability for emergency responders, high-rise building safety, and emergency preparedness have improved as "a direct outgrowth of 9/11, and each is central to that event's legacy of safety," NFPA Journal Staff Writer Fred Durso Jr. reports.

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