Washington – Two agencies have released materials to help educate Spanish-speaking workers about occupational safety.

Washington — In response to multiple studies showing that firefighters are at an increased risk for many types of cancers, the National Volunteer Fire Council and four other organizations have developed a poster intended to help firefighters understand their risks and take action to protect themselves.

Hamilton, Ontario — A series of free guidance documents from the Canadian Center for Occupational Health and Safety is intended to help workers and employers in essential or high-risk occupations and industries reduce their exposure to COVID-19 and curb the spread of infection.

Washington — NIOSH has published a new fact sheet intended to help construction employers and workers prevent falls from roofs, ladders and scaffolds.

Arlington, VA — The International Safety Equipment Association has introduced an initiative to help raise awareness of the dangers of working at height and dropped objects or equipment.

Silver Spring, MD — The number of fatal falls to a lower level among construction workers increased from 2011 to 2017 – reflecting a surge in employment – although the rate of such incidents decreased 25%, according to a recent report from the Center for Construction Research and Training, also known as CPWR.

Tumwater, WA — A new hazard alert from the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries is intended for employers and workers who use personal fall arrest systems positioned near exposed edges.

Washington — In response to a recent increase in fatal falls from height in the mining industry, the Mine Safety and Health Administration has issued a fall protection safety alert.

Boston — The top five costliest injuries in the construction industry in 2018 had a combined price tag of nearly $9 billion, according to the Liberty Mutual Workplace Safety Index – an annual ranking of serious, nonfatal workplace injuries based on direct workers’ compensation costs involving more than five days away from work.

Salem, OR — Oregon OSHA has launched a Spanish-language version of its free online video training course on fall protection for the construction industry.

In Episode 24, the S+H editorial team discusses some frequently asked questions about how OSHA emergency temporary standards and regulations work. Also, Christina Socias-Morales, an epidemiologist in the NIOSH Division of Safety Research, joins us to discuss National Ladder Safety Month, coming in March.

In Episode 25, the S+H editorial team celebrates the two-year anniversary of the podcast with a discussion on the many safety hazards facing storm recovery workers. In addition, Nicole Randall from the International Safety Equipment Association discusses various aspects of personal protective equipment for workers.

In Episode 26, the S+H editorial team examines how language barriers can affect workplace safety. In addition, Jessica Bunting, director of the Research to Practice initiative at CPWR, discusses the ninth annual National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction, set for May 2-6.

Tumwater, WA — Responding to concerns that some of its fall protection rules aren’t “at least as effective” as federal OSHA’s general industry and construction standards, the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries has initiated rulemaking to revise certain provisions of its Unified Safety Standards for Fall Protection.

Tumwater, WA — Updated fall protection rules in Washington state went into effect Nov. 1, bringing them in line with that of federal OSHA.

New York — Aiming to keep construction workers safe from falls, the New York City Department of Buildings is relying on fashion and a music legend to help spread safety messages.

Melbourne, Australia — An expected increase in 45-and-older women in the workforce could mean more on-the-job falls to the same level, a recent study out of Monash University suggests.

A follow-up – eight years later – to one of our most popular articles.

Security systems integrators had expected to pull ahead in 2011, but instead they experienced a dismal first half of the year and a better-by-comparison but still “just average” second half. Following a 4.4 percent drop in 2010, systems integration revenue among the industry’s largest security companies fell yet again — by 3.6 percent in 2011 — leaving many wondering what it would take to get back up to speed. Integrators face sharp curves in the need to quickly adopt IP as the primary infrastructure for security systems, as well as to create business models that offer security as a service.

As security systems integrators take to the world stage amidst trends such as the commercial Internet of Things, cybercrime and terrorism, they showed their prowess with 14 percent growth in 2016.

Security integrators are benefiting from vital technology innovations that are far greater than just simple upgrades.

New Haven, CT — National Transportation Safety Board member Jennifer Homendy, Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and railroad safety advocates repeated their call for full implementation of Positive Train Control – emergency slowing and stopping systems designed to help prevent train crashes and derailments caused by human error.

Springfield, IL — Legislation signed into law Aug. 9 by Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) requires freight trains operating in the state to have at least two crew members, challenging the Federal Railroad Administration’s recent effort to prevent states from regulating train crew sizes.

Washington — An update on the implementation of Positive Train Control – emergency slowing and stopping systems designed to help prevent train crashes and derailments caused by human error – is on the preliminary agenda for the Railroad Safety Advisory Committee’s next meeting, set for Nov. 26.

Washington — Effective April 20, the Federal Railway Administration is requiring the nation’s largest freight railroads – known as Class I – and smaller freight railroads with “inadequate safety performance” to develop and implement a formal risk reduction program. However, Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR), chair of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, says the final rule does not fulfill a congressional mandate to address rail worker fatigue.

Washington — The National Transportation Safety Board has announced that three more recommendations from its 2019-2020 Most Wanted List of Transportation Safety Improvements have been implemented, boosting the total number of recommendations fulfilled to 38.

Washington — OSHA is providing specific exemptions and clarifications for railroad roadway work in its Cranes and Derricks in Construction Standard.

Washington — The Federal Railroad Administration has issued a final rule revising the agency’s regulation on highway rail-grade crossing action plans to require 40 states and the District of Columbia to develop and implement – and update, if applicable – FRA-approved action plans.

Washington — The National Transportation Safety Board is closing three safety recommendations related to the installation of Positive Train Control – emergency slowing and stopping systems designed to help prevent train crashes and derailments caused by human error.

Washington — A railway crew’s failure to operate within safe speed requirements and the Federal Railroad Administration’s interpretation of a safety regulation were factors in a fatal collision between a BNSF intermodal train and a work train in 2018, the National Transportation Safety Board has concluded.

Washington — The Federal Railroad Administration is revising its regulations governing Positive Train Control systems – emergency slowing and stopping systems designed to help prevent train crashes and derailments caused by human error – and reporting on their function.

Washington — The Federal Railroad Administration has issued a safety advisory to railroads and rail employees regarding a recently identified interface design issue that relates to how Positive Train Control systems interface with locomotive and cab car braking systems.

Washington — The Federal Railroad Administration recently renewed the two-year charter of its Railroad Safety Advisory Committee and has scheduled a virtual public meeting for Dec. 8, according to a notice published in the Nov. 23 Federal Register.

Washington — The Senate has confirmed Amit Bose as administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration, with a 68-29 vote Jan. 12.

Washington — The Federal Railroad Administration has finalized amendments to a pair of regulations related to roadway worker safety and on-track roadway maintenance machines and hi-rail vehicles.

Washington — The Federal Railroad Administration has issued a final rule requiring certain railroads to develop and implement a fatigue risk management program as a component of their larger safety risk reduction program.

Washington — Responding to a petition for reconsideration of a final rule on its Risk Reduction Program, the Federal Railroad Administration is seeking comment on whether to keep or remove a provision clarifying that certain contractors are considered a railroad’s directly affected employees.

Washington — In response to a recent fatal derailment at a Texas train yard, the Federal Railroad Administration has issued a safety advisory on the use of portable derails.

Washington — In response to an incident involving the unintended release of a train’s automatic air brakes while stopped at a signal, the Federal Railroad Administration has issued a safety advisory.

Washington — The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration is alerting hazmat rail tank car owners and others of “the potential for certain manway assemblies with aluminum protective housing covers to melt when exposed to extreme heat.”

Washington — The Federal Railroad Administration has scheduled a special meeting of its Railroad Safety Advisory Committee, to focus on the recent freight train derailment in East Palestine, OH.

Washington — Concerned by the deaths of two workers struck by roadway maintenance machines in separate instances within the past two years, the Federal Railroad Administration has issued a safety advisory.

Washington — Spurred by 123 rail incidents linked to severe weather over the past three years, the Federal Railroad Administration has issued a safety advisory.

Washington – OSHA has scheduled an informal public meeting to discuss potential updates to its Hazard Communication Standard. The meeting is set to take place Nov. 16 at the Mine Safety and Health Administration headquarters in Arlington, VA.

Washington — To support implementation of the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals, OSHA and Health Canada have released joint guidance on pictogram requirements for three hazard communication categories.

A common question we are asked is, “We work a 12-hour shift: Should I use 8 or 12 as the time duration on my noise dosimeter to calculate the time-weighted average?” Understanding how changing the time duration of a noise dosimeter sample affects the results, and how this relates to the noise standard, will help us make the best decision.

What are the latest ways to measure environmental noise?

When should I use a noise dosimeter instead of a sound level meter?

What are the differences in current noise exposure standards?

While physical security departments understand the need to manage and protect their IP-based devices, they often face a number of challenges.