In a news release titled "OSHA's VPP Will Continue to Thrive" and a video, the association's executive director -- an OSHA veteran himself -- says it will weather this tempest.
Participants will receive an educator kit with graphics, simulations, supplies, a script, and a sound level meter needed to present the program in their own classrooms.
The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration will triple the cost for all registrants except small or non-for-profit businesses to $3,000 to ensure it can fund $28.3 million in Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness grants.
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.
In the past, cut-resistant gloves were treated as a commodity, with little training and education of wearers. Now, the emphasis is on information and communication.
At some point, most learners will have little experience with traditional approaches to learning that don't involve technology. Finding newer methods is essential.
A common failure of these programs is doing nothing, because it is easy to put this topic off during a tough economy.
Of the 167 retail trade workers killed in 2007, 39 killed were convenience store employees, 32 worked at gasoline stations, and 7 worked at liquor stores.
"An unguarded excavation is a tomb in waiting. Its walls can collapse in moments, crushing and burying workers beneath tons of soil before they have a chance to react or escape," said Paul Mangiafico, OSHA's area director for Middlesex and Essex counties.
NIOSH has translated "Simple Solutions – Ergonomics for Construction Workers" into Spanish to aid employers and workers.
The association's president wrote to U.S. Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., who sponsored S. 1788, warning that risk control approaches aren't available at this time to address all of the workers' exposures in that industry.
"There's no excuse for workers being repeatedly and needlessly exposed to potentially fatal or disabling falls," said Brenda Gordon, OSHA's area director for Boston and southeastern Massachusetts.
The United States Fire Administration's (USFA) National Fire Academy (NFA) has completed a top-to-bottom review and update of its Management Science curriculum. This comprehensive review includes new course content, addressing emerging issues, and challenges faced by the nation's fire and emergency medical services. Course names now reflect the increasingly diverse role contemporary fire and emergency medical services leaders play in their communities.
Attendees will be presented with the different inspection methods for parent material as well as for welds and heat affected zones, along with advice on what to do if damage caused by HHA is found.
The grants are part of a larger Recovery Act initiative — totaling $500 million — to fund workforce development projects that promote economic growth by preparing workers for careers in the energy efficiency industries.
In addition to paying a $13,166 penalty, the company agreed to provide more than $8,800 for training and equipment to the City of Hoquiam (Wash.) Fire Department to improve the department's capabilities in responding to hazardous materials emergencies.
The National Transportation Safety Board found the 2008 rail collision in Chatsworth, Calif., was caused by the Metrolink engineer's prohibited use of a wireless device while he was operating the train. The engineer, who died in the crash, did not respond appropriately to a red signal at Control Point Topanga because he was engaged in text messaging at the time.
The refinery "did not ensure adequate maintenance and oversight of its process safety equipment, exposing workers to the release of toxic chemicals and posing a danger to not only the company's employees but to the community, as well," said Dean McDaniel, OSHA's regional administrator in Dallas.
"It's been 99 years since the fire at The Triangle Shirtwaist Co. in New York City took the lives of nearly 150 workers. . . . Blocked fire exits can be deadly. It is that simple," said OSHA chief Dr. David Michaels.
Requirements for exposure limits, exposure monitoring and determination, protective work clothing and equipment, medical surveillance, communication of hexavalent chromium hazards, and recordkeeping are described.