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CSU Presents 2019 Outstanding Safety Professional Award

"I am honored that Columbia Southern University has chosen me to represent them in this way. I hope to inspire other professionals to continue to develop as leaders and expand their understanding of their craft," Wyatt Bradbury said. "I also hope to challenge experienced professionals to begin the transfer of knowledge that is necessary for the next generation of OSH professionals."

DOT Eases CDL Process for the States

The proposed rule would give states discretion to allow qualified third-party skills trainers to also conduct the skills testing for the same individual.

Health Canada Issues New Reporting Requirements for Hospitals

Hospitals will be required to report serious adverse drug reactions and medical device incidents to Health Canada within 30 days after the incidents are documented within the institutions.

Vermont Launches Logger Safety and Insurance Program

The program is designed to modernize safety training for logging contractors and their employees, reducing injuries and insurance claims and allowing them to qualify for lower insurance rates.

NRC Taking Comments on Vermont's Agreement State Request

Under the proposed agreement, Vermont would accept responsibility for licensing, rulemaking, inspection, and enforcement activities related to industrial, medical, and academic uses of radioactive material. However, by law, NRC would retain jurisdiction over the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant.

MNOSHA Sees Increase in Amputation Reports

Since the current federal fiscal year began Oct. 1, 2018, Minnesota OSHA Compliance has received 15 reports of amputations, many of them to workers' hands and fingers. The agency is urging employers to take immediate steps to assess and reassess amputation hazards and risks in their workplaces and take needed corrective actions to eliminate them, as well as redouble their efforts to train employees on how to perform tasks safely.

CSB Report Lists Multiple DuPont Failures Behind LaPorte Deaths

"Our investigation revealed a long chain of failures which resulted in this fatal event, including deferring much-needed process improvements, improvements that could have prevented the toxic release," said CSB Interim Executive Dr. Kristen Kulinowski.

Dyno Nobel Settles EPA Case Over Oregon Facility's Releases

The $939,852 being paid by the company as part of the settlement will purchase emergency response equipment for authorities in Columbia County, Ore. Dyno Nobel also will file revised estimates of its total ammonia releases and will update its Risk Management Plan.



DARPA GRIT Program Webinar Set for July 8

The Gamma Ray Inspection Technology program seeks novel approaches to achieve high-intensity, tunable, narrow-bandwidth sources of gamma ray radiation. These would be useful for a wide range of national security, industrial, and medical applications.

ISO Publishes First International Standard for Passenger Lifts

Dr. Gero Gschwendtner, chair of the ISO technical committee that developed the standards. said the harmonization of the existing standards removes the barrier to international trade and ensures the same safety level for stakeholders all over the world.

NIOSH Study Shows Limited Use of Health Promotion Programs

"Workers have different needs and circumstances, depending on factors such as occupation, working night shifts, or being paid by the hour," said Dr. Rebecca Tsai, epidemiologist and lead author of the study. "We recommend that employers tailor their workplace health promotion programs based on their specific work organization characteristics in order to maximize participation."

DOL Takes Major Actions to Boost Apprenticeship Programs

DOL published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to establish a process to advance the development of high-quality industry-recognized apprenticeship programs (IRAPs) and is awarding $183.8 million to 23 academic institutions partnering with companies that provide a funding match component. DOL also will make available an additional $100 million for efforts to expand apprenticeships and close the skills gap.

NTSB Issues Scathing Final Report on Amtrak Crash

The board's conclusions, recommendations, and statements from individual board members are riveting, starting on page 120 of the report. They cite multiple failures by the Federal Railroad Administration, Amtrak, the Washington State Department of Transportation, and the Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority.

The Kulamanu was towed from Pier 6 at Honolulu Harbor on June 20, 2019. (Hawaii Department of Transportation photo)

Hawaii DOT Clearing Derelict Vessels from Honolulu Harbor

Three vessels that could have posed a risk of sinking during a severe storm recently have been removed, and others have been readied for removal.

OSHA Signs Alliance with NUCA of South Florida

The new alliance between OSHA's Fort Lauderdale Area Office and NUCA of South Florida will focus on cave-in protection, silica, heat stress, and atmospheric hazards associated with confined spaces.

NRC Approves License Transfer for Oyster Creek Plant

The commission's order approving the license transfer takes effect immediately, but the license transfer won't be finalized until the successful completion of the transaction involving Exelon, OCEP, and HDI.

MSHA Extends Deadline for Grant Applications to June 28

The Brookwood-Sago grants will help recipients develop training materials, provide mine safety training or educational programs, recruit mine operators and miners for the training, and conduct and evaluate the training. MSHA has indicated it will give special emphasis to programs and materials that target miners at smaller mines.

Cleveland Designated a DEA 360 City

The agency is offering additional resources focused on preventing drug abuse with a particular emphasis on education about the dangers of opioids. The effort includes a website, a public awareness campaign, after-school activities, and free presentations to schools and workplaces.

FMCSA Chief to Deliver Automated Vehicle Symposium Keynote

The symposium is co-hosted by the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International and the Transportation Research Board and will be held at the Orlando World Center Marriott during July 15-17.

WorkSafeBC Strengthens PFD Regulations for Fishing Vessels

"Commercial fishing is one of the most dangerous occupations in British Columbia, and drowning is the leading cause of death among B.C. fishermen," said Patrick Olsen, manager of Prevention Field Services for WorkSafeBC. Between 2007 and 2018, there were 24 work-related deaths in the commercial fishing industry, and 15 of those were drownings, the agency reported.

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