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Experts See Increasing Numbers of Teens Abusing Prescription Drugs

Illicit drugs like marijuana, cocaine and heroin have always been a parent’s nightmare. But perfectly legal and easily accessible prescription medications are now the recreational drugs of choice for many teenagers, prompting physicians at Johns Hopkins Children’s Center to urge pediatricians to screen specifically for their abuse during routine visits.

AHRQ: Aching Back Sends More than 3 Million to Emergency Departments

Roughly 3.4 million emergency department visits--an average of 9,400 a day--were specifically for back problems at U.S. hospitals in 2008, according to the latest News and Numbers from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

Leonard Cheshire Disability provides services to about 21,000 individuals who have physical or mental impairments, learning disabilities, or brain injuries.

Fire Safety Education Campaign Targets Disabled Londoners

The London Fire Brigade signed an agreement last week with the charitable organization Leonard Cheshire Disability to improve the fire safety of disabled people across the city.



NIST Controls Sizes of Nanoparticle Clusters for EHS Studies

The same properties that make engineered nanoparticles attractive for numerous applications--small as a virus, biologically and environmentally stabile, and water-soluble--also cause concern about their long-term impacts on environmental health and safety.

Election Season Nears for ASSE, AIHA

Both associations announced slates of candidates this week.

FDA Schedules Meeting for PET Drug Approval Applicants

The March 2 meeting will help applicants prepare new drug applications or abbreviated new drug applications for fludeoxyglucose 18 injection, ammonia N 13 injection, and sodium fluoride F 18 injection.

The MSA Supreme Pro™-X Ear Muff offers fully waterproof microphones.

NIOSH/NHCA Joint Hearing Protection Supplement Published

The supplemental issue of the International Journal of Audiology highlights research that was presented at NHCA's 35th Annual Conference last year.

New Plan Outlines Future R&D Grant Directions for NIST

The National Institute of Standards and Technology has posted a Three-Year Plan outlining the topics of possible future competitions for R&D funding under the agency's Technology Innovation Program. The road map proposes competitions in civil infrastructure, manufacturing, energy, health care, water resources, complex networks, and sustainability.

DOL Settles Whistleblower Suit against Navy Contractor

The employee had complained to company management for being required to climb microwave towers, work in manholes, and enter asbestos-filled buildings without safety training or equipment while working at several San Diego military installations.

The proposal is to be used in a comprehensive error-reduction approach that also relies on licensing and qualifying crew members and aircraft operations.

FAA Aligning Transport Aircraft Rule with EASA Standards

Proposed changes in design requirements in the airworthiness standards for transport category airplanes are intended to minimize design-related flight crew errors.

CPSC Extends Stay of Enforcement for Lead Content Testing, Certification in Children’s Products

The Consumer Product Safety Commission voted 4-1 on Jan. 31, 2011 to extend the stay of enforcement for testing and certification of lead content in children’s products (except for metal components of children’s metal jewelry) until Dec. 31, 2011.

RJ Lee Group Completes Unbound Nanoparticles Study

"This type of study can help alleviate exposure concerns for both manufacturer and researcher handling unbound nanoparticles and for the environment wherever nanoscale manufacturing or research is performed," said Randy Ogle, former operations and EH&S manager at Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences and co-author of the study.

Limited School Closures Called Ineffective on Epidemics

New research shows limited school closures are ineffective and only significant, widespread school closures would have real impact on the spread of an epidemic and the strain placed on hospitals' intensive care units.

FMCSA Publishes Electronic On-Board Recorder Rule

Motor carriers required to maintain Records of Duty Status for Hours of Service recordkeeping would have to use EOBRs to monitor their drivers’ compliance.

FDA Warns Health Care Professionals on Safe Use of Non-Sterile Alcohol Prep Pads

Following a recent recall of potentially contaminated non-sterile alcohol prep pads, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration today reminded health care professionals about the safe use of non-sterile alcohol prep pads to clean and disinfect the surface of the skin.

A sign indicates a gas pipeline is below ground. PG&E is reviewing records for 1,800 miles of its gas transmission lines in populated areas.

Pacific Gas & Electric Checking 1.25 Million Pipeline Records

Continuing fallout from the Sept. 9 pipeline rupture in San Bruno, Calif., that killed eight people, this six-week review will cover 1,800 miles of its gas transmission lines in populated areas. The utility began surveying all of its gas transmission pipelines after the incident.

HSE Alert Warns of Scissor Lift Overturns

Three fatal accidents within a four-year period in Europe involved overturned JLG 500 RTS lifts where a lockout valve failed or the lift/drive interlock system didn’t work, according to the agency, which reminded users to follow two JLG field service bulletins.

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