International Safety


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15 Chemicals May Get SVHC Tag from European Chemicals Agency

The agency has published proposals to identify the group as Substances of Very High Concern because of their carcinogenic, mutagenic, and/or reprotoxic properties and potentially serious effects on human health, or for persistent, bioaccumulative environmental effects. Comments to ECHA are due by Oct. 15.

Coast Guard Logs 25% Increase in Summer Search & Rescue Cases

"Our Coast Guard crews face risks each and every time they respond to a call--including hoax calls and reports of abandoned or adrift vessels," said Cmdr. Phillip Thorne, chief of the response department at Sector Northern New England. "Not only do these cases put responsible mariners in danger, the time and resources expended are a needless waste of money."

Recent food safety investments by the Canadian government total $188 million.

Canada Invests $75 Million More in Food Safety

The agriculture and health ministers announced Friday the addition of 166 new food safety staffers, 24/7 availability of health risk assessment teams, and improved tracking of food illnesses through a national surveillance system.

Right or Wrong? Video Shows 6 Powered Access Errors

The new IPAF safety video uses scenarios extracted from its popular operator training course, which is used to train about 80,000 people per year.

NTSB to Get Report on Alaska Ranger Disaster

Thousands of pages of documents and testimony have been released since the fishing trawler sank in the Bering Sea with 47 crew members aboard. Rescuers saved all but five of them.

New Vibration Standard for Rotodynamic Pumps Released

The standard applies to the evaluation of vibration on rotodynamic pump applications, specifically when the vibration measurements are made on non-rotating parts (bearing housing vibration).

No Airborne Transmission Found in Chinese HINI Outbreak

Preventing transmission by droplets is the key recommendation from researchers who analyzed the June 2009 outbreak among a tour group visiting southwestern China. Thermal scanning and health questionnaires at the Chinese airports did not detect symptomatic passengers.

3rd U.S.-China Consumer Product Safety Summit Coming Next Month

In addition to overarching policy discussions, the summit agenda will include topical discussions of product safety issues, with toys, lead in children's products, all terrain vehicles, lighters, and fireworks representing specific product areas where systemic progress may be made. A special, full-day program is planned for ATV issues.



IFMA Conference to Highlight Pandemic Preparedness, Sustainability

"I want to keep people in the loop and let them know it’s not over. I want people to leave the presentation with the idea that this is something that can really happen and can affect their business and company, and they need to take protective measures,” said Larry D. Riley, compliance consultant with the Workplace Safety Awareness Council, who will present “The Swine Flu Pandemic: Urban Myths and Real Solutions for Your Facility” at the event.

HSE's Crane Register May Cover Construction Only

The agency is asking for comments by Oct. 9 on the proposed register, which would be in effect next year and require employers to submit information to HSE. About 1,000 tower cranes are in use at any one time, the agency estimates.

ASSE Foundation Announces New Doctoral Fellowship for Safety Educators

Fellowship program recipients will be given the opportunity to attend Oregon State University tuition-free for three years, and they will be required to teach at the collegiate level for three years after completing their degree.

The Health and Safety Authority of Ireland is the state-sponsored body in Ireland responsible for securing safety, health, and welfare at work.

Ireland Rolling Out New Ergonomics Standards

Employers must organize the work "to allow the use of mechanical or other means to avoid the need for the manual handling of loads by employees in the workplace," according to the regulations.

ASSE offers tips to prevent farming injuries.

ASSE Offers Tips to Reverse Upward Spiral in Farming Fatalities

"Too many farm family members and hired workers are getting hurt and dying on farms," said ASSE Director of Member/Region Affairs and agricultural safety specialist Terry Wilkinson, Ph.D., CSP, CAE. "A combined effort by the safety professionals and agricultural community can lead the industry into a new direction to prevent future traumatic injuries and illnesses."

MedPro Safety Products develops a precision prototype, takes it to the market to see how it is accepted, then goes back and make changes if necessary to optimize it.

Taking Safer Sharps Where They're Needed

Bringing new technologies to market with a goal of keeping costs where less-affluent countries can afford them, MedPro Safety Products Inc. wants to address the home health market, as well.

FDA Authorizes Emergency Use of H1N1 Test for U.S. Troops Serving Overseas

An Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) authorizes the use of unapproved medical products or unapproved uses of approved medical products during a declared public health emergency.

ASSE to Present SeminarFest 2010 in Las Vegas

The intensive weeklong event, Feb. 14-20, will include more than 50 seminars ranging from one to three days in length on all manner of safety and health topics.

Chief Public Health Officer Dr. David Butler-Jones heads the Public Health Agency of Canada.

Canadian Summit Next Week on Treating Severe H1N1

The Sept. 2-3 meeting will produce new treatment guidelines and guidance on identifying surge capacity for hospitals during a severe outbreak, said Dr. David Butler-Jones, Canada's chief public health officer.

the petitioners sought to allow high beam headlights to be twice as bright

NHTSA Denies Petition Seeking Doubly Powerful High Beams

But in rejecting the 2004 request, the agency said it is now making a comprehensive review of the lighting standard and studying the feasibility of many regulatory changes.

a trench cutting machine in action

HSE Warns of Trench Cutter Safety Devices' Misuse

An Aug. 18 Safety Alert warns construction companies and utilities that machines used to cut trenches may be equipped with safety devices that do not function as designed.

ASSE Honors 16 Members for Safety Excellence

A committee of peers chose the candidates for their contributions to each of the society’s various practice specialties, covering diverse fields, from academics to transportation.

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