Top News


VPPPA Hoping Congressional VPP Bills Make Progress

One has been filed in the U.S. House of Representatives, and the Senate version will be filed the week of Sept. 9, VPPPA's board chairman announced.

More Than 2,500 Attending VPPPA National Conference

About 2,300 people pre-registered for the event, and 300 more registered on Aug. 25 to attend it.

Creators of Hard Hat-Mounted CO Monitor Win Award

Virginia Tech researchers received the IEEETransactions in Automation Science and Engineering's Best Paper Award for their development of a sensor and alarm system to detect when a worker's blood oxygen level shows carbon monoxide poisoning is imminent.



Labor and Management Committee Creating Toolkit

Soliciting members' comments about best practices that are working at their own sites, it plans to create a toolkit to explain VPP's benefits to employers and their workforces.

BSEE, DOE Collaborating on Offshore R&D

The agencies' memorandum of collaboration continues their work to make oil and gas exploration safer and more environmentally sustainable, officials said.

TVA Agrees to Browns Ferry Corrective Actions

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission increased inspections after a red inspection finding was issued because of a failure of a low-pressure coolant injection valve in fall 2010.

OSHA Proposes Lower PEL for Crystalline Silica

The proposed rule would update the current permissible exposure limit, which was set in 1971, and would apply to construction and general industry, including hydraulic fracturing operations at gas drilling sites. Several key stakeholders expressed support.

Home Visits Significantly Prevent Fires, London Brigade Reports

Results released Aug. 22 by the UK's largest fire department show that disabled and older residents, among others, are 18 times less likely to have a fire after firefighters visit.

New FAA, OSHA Policy Aims to Protect Aircraft Cabin Crew Members

New FAA, OSHA Policy Aims to Protect Aircraft Cabin Crew Members

OSHA will be able to enforce some safety and health standards not currently covered by FAA oversight.

Alliance Seeks to Improve Conditions for Female Construction Workers

OSHA announced the alliance and its new website for this purpose on Aug. 22.

BSEE Updating Safety Regulations

With much of the oil and gas production on the OCS having moved into deeper waters, the regulations have not kept pace with the technological advancements, its proposed rule states.

New M/S System IDs Dangerous Bacteria, Yeasts

FDA announced it has allowed the marketing of the VITEK MS, which can identify 193 different microorganisms and perform up to 192 different tests in a single automated series of testing.

Parsons' Salt Waste Processing Facility Earns DOE VPP Merit Award

Dr. David Moody, DOE-Savannah River operations manager, presented a Merit certificate of achievement and a VPP Merit flag to Parsons employees at the SWPF construction site on Aug. 6.

Blended Learning or Classroom Training – Are Both Equally Effective?

The North American Council for Online Learning defines it this way: “Blended learning means many things to many people, even within our relatively small online learning community. It is referred to as both blended and hybrid learning, with little or no difference in the meaning of the terms among most educators. In general terms, blended learning combines online delivery of educational content with the best features of classroom interaction and live instruction to personalize learning, allow thoughtful reflection, and differentiate instruction from student to student across a diverse group of learners.”

5 Keys to Success for Automated External Defibrillator (AED) Programs

According to the American Heart Association, over 300,000 sudden cardiac arrests (SCA) occur annually in the United States, and, according to OSHA, about 10,000 occur at work. For many companies who set out to improve the health and safety of their workforce by implementing an Automated External Defibrillation (AED) program, it’s often easier to set up a defibrillator program than it is to maintain and keep the program as vibrant as it was when it started.

Non-Passenger Train Fatalities Still Rising: NTSB

They increased 8 percent in 2012, and the casualty rate this year is even higher, notes Robert Hall, director of NTSB’s Office of Railroad, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Investigations.

NHTSA Announces Plan for VIN Recall Tool

The agency plans to require makers of automobiles, light trucks, and motorcycles to provide it on their websites starting next year.

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