Fire
Student Engineers Design Fire Suppression System
A group of graduating engineers from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute designed a prototype of a new "smart" fire suppression system that pinpoints the location of a fire in a building ...
IAFC: Investigation Following Virginia Firefighter’s Death May Impact National Firefighter Safety
The International Association of Fire Chief’s (IAFC) Safety, Health and Survival (SHS) section will address the national recommendations made in the Prince William County, Va., Department of Fire and Rescue’s investigative report following the 2007 line-of-duty death of a local firefighter. According to IAFC, its work with these recommendations could prevent future firefighter fatalities and have a nationwide impact on firefighter safety...
NIST Conducts Stairwell Evacuation Study
Most of the time, people use the stairs in buildings – especially in high-rise structures – only as a backup for faster elevators and escalators. During a fire or other emergency, however, stairs become the primary passage to survival. In a new study, researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) examined what is known about how stairs work as an emergency evacuation route. Their answer? Not nearly enough....
Reform is on the Agenda at Department of Homeland Security
Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano ordered an Efficiency Review across the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) last month – an effort that the Obama administration says will make the department work better by promoting efficiency, reducing duplication and improving customer service in DHS functions....
Advances in Firefighting Showcased at Annual Spring School
The Texas Engineering Extension Service's (TEEX) Annual Summer Fire Training School, held each July at Brayton Fire Training Field, is the most publicized and recognized 3 weeks in the training calendar. But this week, another part of the annual school program – albeit significantly smaller – is bringing emerging technologies to the forefront of firefighting....
Live Fire Experiments Examine Impact of Changes in Firefighting Resources
Recent fire experiments performed by researchers from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and other organizations are part of a landmark study examining the effect of firefighter crew sizes and equipment arrival times on fire growth rates and an occupant's ability to survive a building fire....
ISEA Announces Public Review for First Aid, Smoke Hood Standards
The International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA) recently announced the availability of draft revisions to its voluntary consensus standards for workplace first aid kits and air-purifying respiratory protective smoke escape devices. ...
2009 Safety, Health and Survival Week Theme Announced
The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) and the International Association of Firefighters (IAFF) announced the theme “Protect Yourself: Your Safety, Health and Survival Are Your Responsibility” for the 2009 Safety, Health and Survival Week, scheduled for June 14-20....
IAFC Reaffirms Its Position Opposing Public Safety Consolidation
The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) board of directors issued a position statement reaffirming the association’s continued opposition to consolidating fire and emergency service and law enforcement agencies and the creation of public safety officers. The measure comes in response to a growing trend of some consultants to push consolidation as a remedy for local government officials faced with shrinking local budgets....
CSB Safety Video Stresses Effective Winterization Programs
In a new video safety message, U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) Chairman John Bresland urged companies to ensure they have effective winterization programs to prevent major chemical and refinery process accidents that could result in deaths or substantial property damage....
CSB to Investigate Utah Refinery Explosion
A Jan. 12 explosion at the Silver Eagle Refinery in Woods Cross, Utah, injured four workers and prompted a four-member team from the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) to investigate the cause of the incident....
CSB Chairman Calls for Focus On Process Safety, Accident Prevention During Recession
In his first video safety message on Dec. 22, U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) Chairman John Bresland said that chemical companies and refineries need to continue to invest in process safety and preventive maintenance, even as the economic downturn cuts into sales and profits....
NIOSH Study Examines Safety, Health Implications of Firefighters’ Boots
As the population of firefighters becomes more diverse, one size or style of protective equipment may not fit all responders. Can the weight of protective boots therefore put some firefighters at risk? Scientists at two National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) laboratories are conducting research to understand the physiological and biomechanical effects of boot weight on male and female firefighters....
Decorate Safely This Holiday Season
Flickering candles, blinking holiday lights and fragrant evergreens are staples of the holiday season, but when used improperly, these holiday decorating “must haves” can pose deadly dangers. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) therefore urges consumers to keep safety in mind as they decorate for the holidays....
First Responders and the Importance of Conflict Resolution
When first responders reach the site of an emergency that is in progress, it often is unnerving and unsettling. They must keep their wits about them and...
The National Safety Survey: You Talk and We Listen
The greatest EHS challenge for Gregory Havel, safety director at Scherrer Construction Co. Inc. in Burlington, Wisc., is what he perceives as the adversarial...
Fire Safety 101 for the Safety Professional
In theory, fire responsibilities appear to correlate with the safety professionals basic safety-related duties. However, the knowledge base required in...
