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NFPA Taking Feedback on PPE Question

NFPA is asking whether it should develop a new contamination control standard that identifies best practices for cleaning firefighters' PPE and how gear should be handled after possible exposure to contaminants, or, alternatively, put that information into the existing NFPA 1581 standard.

Safety Board Calls for Better FAA Oversight of Hot Air Balloon Operators

NTSB faults FAA's oversight of commercial balloon operators, making two recommendations to the agency that ask it to remove the medical certificate exemption for commercial balloon operators and to find ways to better provide oversight of balloon operators.

'Drug Czar' Nominee Withdraws

U.S. Rep. Tom Marino, R-Pa., has withdrawn his name from consideration to lead the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, President Donald J. Trump confirmed early Oct. 17.



NIOSH Posts New Chapter on Biological Monitoring for Chemical Exposures

The 43-page chapter, titled "Application of Biological Monitoring Methods for Chemical Exposures in Occupational Health," explains why biomonitoring is a valuable tool for demonstrating compliance with exposure limits, research, health monitoring, and risk assessment and management.

MIOSHA Partners with Subcontractors Group

"We're pleased to sign this alliance that brings together our organizations to expand education, outreach, and information sharing throughout the state," said MIOSHA Director Bart Pickelman. "We particularly look forward to engaging smaller contractors to assist them in developing an appropriate safety and health program for their job sites."

NIOSH Creates Robotics Research Center

NIOSH researchers have identified 61 robot-related workplace deaths between 1992 and 2015. "We suspect fatalities will increase over time because of the growing number of industrial robots being used by companies in the U.S., and from the introduction of collaborative and co-existing robots, powered exoskeletons, and autonomous vehicles into the work environment," said Dawn Castillo, MPH, director of NIOSH's Division of Safety Research and the center's program manager.

ISO Developing Standard on Organizational Governance

The project is timely because trust in business and in governments is quite low. The standard is expected to be published by 2020 and could help to improve this situation.

Seven Workers Rescued After Louisiana Oil Platform Explosion

One person remained unaccounted for and the platform was still burning early Oct. 16, a New Orleans TV station reported.

Few Private-Sector Workers Have Vision Care Plans at Work

Only 23 percent had access to them in March 2017, according to BLS, which notes access to other types of health benefits was significantly higher.

FDNY Honors Fire Inspectors

They inspect buildings and ensure compliance with New York City regulations. The city's fire commissioner, Daniel A. Nigro, congratulated them for contributing to a record low of 48 fire deaths in New York City last year.

Key DOT Office Gets New Director

Patrice Kelly was named director of the Office of Drug and Alcohol Policy and Compliance in the Office of the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation on Oct. 11, the Drug & Alcohol Testing Industry Association reported.

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Coast Guard Recognizes Ports of NY, NJ, and Albany

The awards were presented Oct. 11 at a meeting that brought together maritime companies in the private sector and law enforcement agencies from the New York and New Jersey area to discuss actions taken to mitigate current maritime threats.

AIHA, ASSE Sign Cooperative Agreement

"In order for us to ensure protection for workers, it is imperative that all organizations with shared interests work together. We must pool our resources – people, power, knowledge, and skills – to present a united front against threats to worker health and safety and to promote the field of industrial hygiene," said AIHA President Deborah Imel Nelson.

November Brown Bag Lunch Focused on Safety Enforcement

Attendees of the Nov. 8 event in Washington, D.C., can meet leaders and staff from the Solicitor's Divisions of Occupational and Mine Safety and Health, OSHA, MSHA, and the Occupational and Mine Safety and Health Review Commissions.

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