Fire safety veteran asked to expand wildfire safety and training opportunities for fire service professionals and oversee NFPA’s wildfire codes and standards.
Specifically, OSHA found blocked exits, workers lacking safety glasses and gloves while working with acid, unlabeled containers of hazardous chemicals, unmarked electrical equipment, exposed live electrical parts, and moisture in electrical equipment.
The willful violations cited address the inappropriate location of an air material separator that lacked explosion venting, an inadequate housekeeping program, and allowing combustible dusts to collect at depths greater than one-eighth of an inch.
A British company supplied contaminated gas that was used to fill portable fire extinguishers on various types of aircraft. If used on a fire, the gas may not suppress it as intended, and toxic fumes could be released, the agency said Friday.
According to market research firm Global Industry Analysts Inc., which published the study, the market is primarily driven by greater residential and industrial safety requirements and technological advancements.
The funds from the 2010 Isman Grant will make it possible for the hazmat team to attend the IAFC International Hazardous Materials Response Teams Conference in Baltimore in May 2010.
"Because of people like Chris, millions of workers in the U.S. go to work and leave work injury and illness free every day," said ASSE President C. Christopher Patton. "We salute Chris for all he has done the past 20 years as a dedicated safety and health professional and will honor his memory, especially in St. Louis where he touched so many lives."
The company was cited for two alleged willful violations for failing to adequately protect employees from energized electrical circuits and failing to inform employees about the hazards involved with energized electrical circuits.
Purging natural gas lines incorrectly is a major concern for the U.S. Chemical Safety Board, which has a team on site. Connecticut Gov. M. Jodi Rell has formed two panels of experts to find the cause and determine whether laws, regulations, or building and fire codes should be strengthened.
The Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has issued a special report, part of its Topical Fire Report Series, examining the causes and characteristics of fires in hotels and motels.
Fire departments have until Feb. 12 to apply for two junior firefighter awards sponsored by Tyco International. Almost 1,100 departments from all 50 states now participate in the National Junior Firefighter Program.
An estimated annual average of 378,700 fires, 2,740 deaths, 13,090 injuries and $5.6 billion in property losses associated with residential fires were reported by fire departments from 2003 through 2005. CPSC recommends consumers replace the batteries in their smoke and CO alarms annually and test the alarms monthly.
"Welcome to the premier emergency medical service in the country," Chief of Department Edward Kilduff told 77 new EMTs on Jan. 27. "Be ready, be prepared, be on your toes, be proud."
The Property Casualty Insurers Association of America and a California affiliate have created Web sites to help motorists battle local taxes assessed when emergency vehicles respond to a crash scene.
The panel has recommended building code changes and is charged with delivering a final report by July 31 on wildfires that killed 173 people during late January and February 2009. A National Day of Mourning will be observed on Sunday.
Agency inspectors found that combustible particulate solids, which were generated during trimming and repair operations, were not collected into an adequately designed dust collection system, were allowed to accumulate on machinery and surfaces, and were not adequately cleaned up to prevent such buildup.
The agency is conducting the two meetings in Atlanta to make it easier for families of those who perished in the 2008 Imperial Sugar Co. explosion in Port Wentworth, Ga., to attend.
"OSHA determined that this company is fully aware of the deficiencies it has in its safety program and what needs to be changed to provide safe work conditions for employees but hasn't acted to correct those deficiencies," said Roberto Sanchez, director of the agency's area office in Birmingham, Ala.
OSHA agents found workers were exposed to dangers from the company's failure to first de-energize live electrical parts before having employees work on them, resulting in the issuance of a willful citation.
"The significant fines of $683,000 cannot replace this worker's life or bring peace to the family, but they will go a long way in letting this employer know disregarding worker safety and health will not be tolerated," said OSHA chief Dr. David Michaels.