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CSB to Release Final Investigation Report on PCA Explosion

The explosion occurred at the company’s Pulp and Paper Mill during hot work activities during the facility’s annual shutdown, killing three contract workers and injuring seven others.

OSHA Cites Contractor for Exposing Workers to Trenching, Other Safety Hazards

“Trenching and excavation are among the most hazardous construction operations, and employers have an obligation to follow safety requirements designed to protect their workers,” OSHA Bismarck Area Office Director Eric Brooks.

NTSB to Host Roundtable on In-Flight Loss of Control

The one-day roundtable, “Prevent Loss of Control in Flight in General Aviation Through Training and Technology," will take place in Washington, D.C., on April 24. Eighteen industry and government experts will participate, and the discussion will be moderated by NTSB Chairman Robert L. Sumwalt.



Southwest Airlines Engine Explodes in Flight, Killing a Passenger

It was the first passenger fatality in a U.S. airline accident since 2009, according to National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) chairman Robert Sumwalt.

Arizona Agencies Preparing for the Heat

Dr. Cara M. Christ, director of the Arizona Department of Health Services, reported on her blog last week that officials have begun planning for a hot summer, after a June 2017 heat wave last year brought record high temperatures.

NIST Releases Updated Cybersecurity Framework

"Cybersecurity is critical for national and economic security," said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross. "The voluntary NIST Cybersecurity Framework should be every company's first line of defense. Adopting version 1.1 is a must do for all CEOs."

ASSE Foundation Sets New Record for Scholarships and Awards

By awarding more than $375,000 in scholarships and grants to 117 individuals seeking advancement in the occupational safety and health profession, the foundation topped its previous record of $303,665 awarded in 2017.

CDC Hosting 67th EIS Conference This Week

The April 16-19 conference includes four special sessions on critical public health topics: the Rohingya refugee crisis in Bangladesh, the need for innovative use of big data in public health, the 1918 influenza centenary, and the U.S. opioid overdose epidemic.

Texas Work Zone Deaths Rose 9 Percent in 2017

There were 199 work zone fatalities in Texas during 2017, but just 4 percent of the victims were road crew workers. The other 96 percent were motorists, pedestrians, and bicyclists, according to TxDOT. There were 813 work zone serious injuries recorded in the state during 2017.

ATA Hires New Safety Policy Director

Dan Horvath joined ATA after more than five years as the director of compliance and safety at TransForce Inc.

NIOSH Publishes Updated NORA Public Safety Agenda

Cardiovascular disease, cancer, and chronic diseases are the first recommendation because stress is such a big factor affecting public safety workers' health, it says. Sudden cardiac events are responsible for 7 to 22 percent of on-duty deaths among police officers, 17 percent among wildland firefighters, and 11 percent among EMS workers, it says.

Committee Retires Four 2017 Hurricane Names

The World Meteorological Organization maintains rotating lists of names that are appropriate for each tropical cyclone basin. In the Atlantic and Eastern North Pacific, male and female names alternate alphabetically, and the lists are used every six years. But if a hurricane is particularly deadly or costly, its name is retired and is replaced by a different name.

UK Company Fined $1.2 Million After Worker Fell from Ladder

A window installer working for Safestyle UK was attempting to install a first-floor rear bedroom window when the ladder he was on slipped. The ladder was not footed or tied and the worker fell from a height of more than 3 meters. The employee sustained a broken kneecap that required surgery.

NFPA Stops Work on NFPA 277 Standard

"Burning upholstered furniture presents a significant fire issue that demands a solution to protect both citizens and first responders," said Christian Dubay, vice president of NFPA's Engineering division. "Unfortunately, creating a test method to assist in addressing this part of the fire problem has proved quite challenging and ultimately resulted in the council's decision."

DOL Hosting Event for Ames Laboratory Workers This Month

Representatives of the Department of Labor's Office of the Ombudsman for the EEOICPA, the Ombudsman to NIOSH for the EEOICPA, and DOE's Former Worker Medical Screening Program will be on hand. After the presentation, staffers will answer questions regarding existing claims, provide claim status updates, and help workers file new claims.

Mizco International Recalls Power Bank Charging Station

The recalled involves about 6,000 units of the Re-fuel by Digipower Grab and Go Family Pack portable power bank charging station. When the device is being charged, it can overheat, posing fire and burn hazards.

Study Shows Measures Needed to Protect Workers Opening Fumigated Containers

More than 600 million freight containers are shipped worldwide each year. To prevent damaging the goods, these containers are often treated with pesticides and other agents that have known toxic or irritant properties and can have long-term effects on the cardiovascular and central nervous systems.

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