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Large-scale incident safety for first responders

In the years since the 9/11 terrorist attacks, training and preparation for police, fire and emergency medical services professionals has taken on heightened importance,




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Repetitive exposure to breaching-related blasts linked to brain damage in police, military: study

Charlottesville, VA — Frequent exposure to minor explosions may increase the risk of brain injury and inflammation among members of law enforcement and the military, results of a recent study led by researchers from the University of Virginia show.




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New study will explore Gulf War Illness

Washington — The National Institutes of Health and the Department of Veterans Affairs will partner on a study they hope “will lead to many answers to those suffering from Gulf War Illness.”




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U.S. military rolling out targeted mental health care for service members

Washington — A new approach to assisting military personnel who have mental health concerns “helps people get the specific care they need in a timely manner,” a military health care provider says.




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Pentagon takes steps to protect warfighters from blast-related brain injury

Washington — A recent memo from the Department of Defense lists new requirements intended to protect military personnel from brain and cognitive trauma associated with blast overpressure.




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Chao: I have encouraged legislation to clarify HOS requirements

Washington — In her second appropriations hearing in as many days, Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao said she has “encouraged legislation” to clarify hours-of-service requirements for commercial motor vehicle drivers.




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FMCSA’s Martinez talks ELDs, driver shortages during House hearing

Washington — Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Administrator Raymond Martinez affirmed his belief in electronic logging devices, but said “additional flexibility” is forthcoming for agricultural transporters, during a May 22 hearing before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee’s Highways and Transit Subcommittee.




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Bipartisan group of senators to FMCSA: ‘Explore improvements’ to HOS rules

Washington — A bipartisan group of 30 senators is calling for Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Administrator Raymond Martinez to “explore improvements” to hours-of-service regulations for commercial truck drivers.




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FMCSA clarifies hours-of-service rules on agricultural commodities, personal conveyance

Washington — The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has issued guidance intended to clarify the agricultural commodities exemption and the “personal conveyance” provision in driver hours-of-service regulations, according to separate notices published in the June 7 Federal Register.




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Survey finds driver shortage, HOS rules top list of trucking industry concerns; ATRI to create ELD data clearinghouse

Austin, TX — A perceived growing shortage of commercial motor vehicle drivers and potential changes to hours-of-service rules are the top issues affecting the trucking industry, according to an annual survey conducted by the American Transportation Research Institute.




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Bipartisan House bills seek ELD exemptions for livestock haulers, small carriers

Washington – Bipartisan bills introduced in the House on March 12 would exempt certain segments of the commercial motor vehicle industry from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s mandate on use of electronic logging devices to record truck driver hours of service.




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July 31 new target for proposed rule to amend trucker hours-of-service regs, DOT says

Washington — The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is now eyeing July 31 as the publication date for a proposed rule the agency says would add flexibility to hours-of-service regulations for commercial truck drivers, according to a Department of Transportation regulatory update released in June.




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New final rule from FMCSA officially removes suspended HOS restart provisions from Code of Federal Regulations

Washington — Commercial motor vehicle drivers are no longer officially required to take a weekly break of at least 34 consecutive hours, including two breaks between 1 and 5 a.m., to comply with Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration hours-of-service regulations, under a new final rule.




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COVID-19 pandemic: Expanded FMCSA emergency declaration includes hours-of-service exemptions

Washington — Commercial motor vehicle drivers transporting items intended to assist in COVID-19 pandemic relief efforts are temporarily exempt from federal hours-of-service regulations, under an expanded national emergency declaration issued by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration on March 18.




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FMCSA seeks comment on clarification of ‘agricultural commodities’

Washington — The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is asking for input on an interim final rule that clarifies the definitions of the terms “any agricultural commodity” and “livestock” in the agency’s hours-of-service regulations for commercial truck drivers.




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FMCSA proposes amending guidance on CMV ‘yard moves,’ hours of service

Washington — The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is seeking public comment on a proposal to revise the agency’s guidance on “yard moves” and commercial motor vehicle drivers’ hours of service.




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Safe parking and speed limiters are some of trucking industry’s top concerns, survey finds

San Diego — Several safety-related issues earned a spot on the American Transportation Research Institute’s recently released list of top trucking industry concerns.




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New survey asks: What are the trucking industry’s top concerns?

Arlington, VA — Wanted: input from trucking industry stakeholders on the most critical issues facing the industry.




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Universities partner on toolkit to improve health, safety and wellness

Lowell, MA – A new online toolkit aims to help employers integrate their health, safety and wellness programs.




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Make traffic safety a part of company culture, employer network says

Vienna, VA – The Network of Employers for Traffic Safety has developed a free online toolkit to help organizations strengthen their road safety programs.




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Roofing contractor safety website offers webinars, toolbox talks

The National Roofing Contractors Association and roofing manufacturer GAF have teamed up to create a website intended to help roofing contractors keep their employers safe.




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NIOSH, OSHA offer toolkit on respiratory protection for health care workers

Washington – A new toolkit from OSHA and NIOSH aims to help protect health care workers from transmissible diseases and other respiratory hazards.




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Small-business training tool now features health care scenarios

Washington – OSHA has updated an online tool aimed at teaching small-business owners and workers how to locate workplace hazards.




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Annual campaign urges workers to ‘Drive Focused, Drive Smart’

McLean, VA – The Network of Employers for Traffic Safety is offering a free online toolkit to help employers keep workers and their families safe on the road as part of NETS’ Drive Safely Work Week Oct. 5-9.




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New NIOSH training tool: mine hazard recognition software

Washington — NIOSH has unveiled a beta version of an interactive, PC-based simulation software tool aimed at improving hazard recognition in mines.




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Still a State Plan: Arizona, OSHA end conflict over fall protection standard in construction

Washington — Arizona’s dispute with OSHA – which at one point appeared to threaten its status as an approved State Plan – has officially ended, OSHA announced in a notice published in the July 26 Federal Register.




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Fall protection near exposed edges: Washington state issues hazard alert

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.




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‘No two roofs are basically alike’: CPWR hosts webinar on fall protection

Silver Spring, MD — Roofers face an increased risk of fatal falls to a lower level compared with other construction subgroups, making fall protection strategies a vital component of roof work planning and training.




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National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction to kick off with webinar

Washington — The eighth annual National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction is set to kick off on May 3 with a webinar hosted by OSHA, NIOSH, and CPWR – the Center for Construction Research and Training.




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OSHA proposes updates to handrail, stair rail requirements in Walking-Working Surfaces standard

Washington — OSHA is seeking to update the handrail and stair rail system requirements in its standard on walking-working surfaces for general industry.




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On the Safe Side podcast Episode 26: Language barriers at work and preventing falls in construction

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.




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Are you ready for the National Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction?

Washington — The 10th annual National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction is fast approaching, and employers nationwide are being encouraged to host an event.




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7 common workplace safety hazards (revisited)

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




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Systems Integrator of the Year Honoree: 2 Basic Rules

MidCo Inc., Burr Ridge, Ill, was founded in 1960 by Edwin F. Janik and Albina Janik as a small intercom and paging company. What started out as a two-man operation




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The 18th Annual Top Systems Integrators Report: Neither Stellar Nor Stagnant

A 9 percent decrease in the 2012 revenue for SDM’s Top Systems Integrators is a deceiving number because individual company results did not recede to that extent.  




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Most Popular Brands Among Top Systems Integrators

Which suppliers do the largest systems integrators use? This Top Systems Integrators brand-usage report lists the top 15 manufacturers and top 12 distributors that earn the business of the largest systems integrators in the physical security channel.




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SDM 2019 Top Systems Integrators Report: Security Projects Coming From All Market Sectors

Security integrators describe the 2018 market for integrated security systems as “strong,” “hot” and “accelerated” — all apt terms, given that the nation’s largest integrators grew their systems integration revenue by at least 14 percent last year.




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Rail crossing safety for concrete, garbage and dump truck drivers: New video available

Washington — A new video from a rail safety education group is aimed at helping drivers of concrete, garbage and dump trucks safely navigate rail crossings.




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Cranes and derricks in railroad roadway work: OSHA clarifies final rule; lists exemptions

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




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Design issue could allow Positive Train Control systems to be disabled, FRA warns

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.




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FRA announces advisory committee’s charter renewal, Dec. 8 meeting

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.




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Train crew size requirements: FRA to host public hearing in December

Washington — The Federal Railroad Administration has scheduled a public hearing on a proposed rule that would require at least two crew members for most trains.




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Fatal incident in Texas train yard involving a portable derail spurs FRA safety advisory

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.




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PHMSA issues safety advisory on aluminum rail tank car covers

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.”




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Special meeting of FRA safety advisory committee set for March 27

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.




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Railroad safety agency calls for caution on train car placement

Washington — Although recent technologies can improve train handling and fuel efficiency, “they cannot replace the need for correct car placement and assembly,” the Federal Railroad Administration says in a recent safety advisory.




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FRA providing funding for rail safety research

Washington — The Federal Railroad Administration is making available $5 million in grants for the creation of a rail research and development Center of Excellence.




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Railroad safety agency raises the alarm on roadway maintenance machines

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.




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Pipeline safety agency awards grants for hazmat training

Washington — Enhancing first responders’ education and training on hazardous materials is the focus of more than $30 million in recent Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration grant funding.




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Transit agency aims to make workers safer near train tracks

Washington — The Federal Transit Administration is accepting comment on a proposed rule that would establish mandatory minimum safety standards for rail transit employees who work on or near tracks.