Violence in Amsterdam; Israel sends rescue planes. Analysis of governing possibilities post-war: among them, Israeli sovereignty over Judea & Samaria and the 'Resettle Gaza' movement. United Hatzalah medical volunteers' bravery on October 7.

The value of the FCIA member, FM 4991-approved or UL-ULC qualified firestop contractor comes from the commitment to excellence. These important designations – FM 4991-Approved, UL-Qualified, ULC-Qualified and FCIA Member in Good Standing – are being recognized by 07 84 00 Firestopping specifications in many occupancies around the world.

The SFIA’s well-known executive director has retired. We were fortunate to speak with him as he exited his role.

Arlington, VA — The Mine Safety and Health Administration is “actively working” toward publishing a proposed rule on respirable crystalline silica, agency administrator Chris Williamson said Oct. 20.

Washington – State-run OSHA programs face staffing challenges in part because of budget cuts, and federal OSHA should provide better access to training and deadlines for taking over troubled state programs, concludes a new report from the Government Accountability Office.

Washington – The Teamsters union has called for a renewed commitment by Congress to maintain current hours-of-service rules for drivers to help prevent tragedies caused by driver fatigue.

Washington — Federal regulation of autonomous trucks must “prioritize both workers and safety,” the International Brotherhood of Teamsters says.

Washington — NIOSH and the American Staffing Association have announced a multiyear partnership agreement to advance protections for temporary workers.

Washington — The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has set a deadline of Sept. 30 for certified medical examiners to submit the results of physical qualification exams of commercial truck and bus drivers that were completed while the National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners was offline from Dec. 1, 2017, through Aug. 13, 2018.

Cambridge, MA — Certain programs and policies may help curb the excessive prescribing of opioids and potential misuse, results of a recent study by the Workers Compensation Research Institute suggest.

Arlington, VA — Criteria for the certification of coal mine rescue teams will “remain in effect, without changes,” the Mine Safety and Health Administration announced Sept. 1, after completing a requisite review under the Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response (MINER) Act of 2006.

Approximately 60 miles southeast of Los Angeles, in the foothills of the Santa Ana Mountains, the National Audubon Society’s Starr Ranch Sanctuary rolls across 4,000 acres. SoCal’s sprawling development is not far from the sanctuary borders, reminding everyone of the critical need to balance development with open spaces.

Can I modify or handwrite GHS pictograms?

Washington – The Department of Labor Office of Inspector General is currently conducting audits of three OSHA programs, with two other audits planned, OIG stated in its semiannual report to Congress.

Washington – Senators on both sides of the aisle have introduced legislation that would make permanent OSHA’s Voluntary Protection Programs.

Aurora, CO — A new, free online tool is intended to help safety professionals make a stronger business case for employer investment in safety, health and wellness programs.

Philadelphia – Financial penalties are more effective at helping workers reach physical activity goals than monetary rewards in a wellness program, according to a study from the University of Pennsylvania.

In a memo sent Oct. 11 to regional administrators and state designees, the agency outlines examples of acceptable drug testing, and states that incentive programs that withhold prizes because of an injury are compliant “as long as the employer has implemented precautions to ensure that employees feel free to report an injury or illness.”

When done correctly, incentive programs can boost workplace safety, experts say.

In Episode 18, the S+H editorial team discusses the pros and cons of safety incentives, along with OSHA’s evolving stance on the topic. Also: Transportation safety expert Brian Hammer answers our questions about road safety, as more workers begin to commute to their workplace again.

My current fire prevention education program consists of a PowerPoint presentation, and I can tell my workforce is bored. How can I put life back into the program and keep people engaged?

How can I change up my fire prevention program to provide more advanced lessons to veteran employees? Some have seen my presentation year after year.

Top central station executives illuminate the art of recruiting, onboarding and retaining exceptional talent. Plus, they share their views on remote work policies.

C.A. Short’s mission is to provide organizations with a blueprint to implement a strategic, OSHA-compliant employee safety incentive program that will raise awareness, reduce incidents and increase the bottom line.

Fairfax, VA — Virtual reality could provide a reliable measure in predicting a candidate’s ability to pass a crane certification exam, results of a recent study published by the National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators indicate.

Washington – The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration has established new review criteria for state excavation damage prevention programs, under a final rule published in the July 23 Federal Register.

Washington — The National Occupational Research Agenda Manufacturing Sector Council has created an online resource guide intended to assist organizations in beginning, maintaining or enhancing their hazardous energy control programs.

Washington — Nearly two years after the Federal Railroad Administration first published a final rule requiring commuter and intercity passenger railroads to develop and implement system safety programs, the process has hit another hurdle.

Washington — The Federal Railroad Administration has extended until March 4 its stay on publishing a final rule requiring commuter and intercity passenger railroads to develop and implement system safety programs.

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 — More than three years after the Federal Railroad Administration published a final rule that requires commuter and intercity passenger lines to develop and implement system safety programs, FRA is amending the rule.

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.

Atlanta — OSHA Region 4 on Oct. 1 renewed a series of Regional Emphasis Programs.

Dallas — OSHA Region 6 has renewed two of its emphasis programs and revised another.

What do I need to know about OSHA’s Special Emphasis Programs?

How can technology help improve safety data?

Atlanta – In an effort to help employers start or expand employee health promotion programs, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has created the Workplace Health Resource Center website.

Boston — Rather than provide worker wellness programs aimed at changing individual behaviors, employers should focus on reshaping work conditions that are the root cause of stress-related health problems, say researchers from a pair of Boston universities.

This informative guide from Red Wing for Business compares the many advantages of a managed safety footwear program with those of a typical reimbursement program – for both you and your employees.

Washington — The Northrop Grumman St. Augustine (FL) Aircraft Integration Center of Excellence and Rational Acoustics LLC are the respective recipients of the 2022 NIOSH Safe-in-Sound Excellence and Innovation in Hearing Loss Prevention Awards.

Experts in the know explain the critical need for cybersecurity training and education for security integrators in video surveillance, detailing best practices for building awareness, training staff on protocols, and fostering a culture of security within organization.

The life cycle of electrical assets typically spans 25-30 years under ideal conditions. However, many companies don’t maintain their electrical assets, which may result in reduced asset life.

Denver — Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming make up the Denver Region.

Whitewater, WI – One-third of residential construction contractors who participated in a recent study said their firms lacked written safety programs, according to researchers from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.

In Episode 19, the S+H editorial team discusses the benefits and challenges of being a one-person safety team. Also: Julia Abate, executive director of The Ergonomics Center at North Carolina State University, answers our questions about ergonomic concerns as more workers return to their physical work locations.

In Episode 31, the S+H editorial team dives into the September issue’s feature story on setting up a volunteer first aid response team in your workplace, and discusses the ins and outs of worker engagement and buy-in with Shawn Galloway, CEO of ProAct Safety.

Philadelphia — OSHA Region 3 has renewed a series of regional and local emphasis programs, which include a focus on fall hazards in the construction industry.

Exposure to high levels of noise can lead to permanent hearing loss. According to OSHA, roughly 30 million workers are exposed to hazardous noise every year.

Boston — Employees who use illicit substances have increased absenteeism – a “compelling argument” for employers to promote employee treatment programs, results of a recent Boston University study show.

What should our company look for in a safety footwear program/provider?