Fire
Putting the "Health" in International Fire/EMS Safety and Health Week
With a theme of "Rules You Can Live By," the 2012 International Fire/EMS Safety and Health Week, a collaborative effort held June 17-23, sets out to reinforce the connection between health and safety...
Put a Freeze on Winter Fires
As we move closer to winter and home fires begin to increase, the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) are reminding individuals and communities that fire safety awareness and efforts especially are important in the coming months. To support this effort, the USFA and NFPA are sponsoring a special initiative – Put a Freeze on Winter Fires – to help get the word out about home fire safety...
10 Communities Receive Grants for their Fire Departments from Liberty Mutual
Residents in 10 communities earned $10,000 to support their local fire departments by taking Liberty Mutual Insurance’s Fire Safety Pledge and completing an online fire safety quiz...
Putting Out Fires: Oct. 9-15 is National Fire Prevention Week
Fire – including smoke – ranks as the sixth leading cause of unintentional death, according to the National Safety Council (NSC). To help raise awareness and keep people safe and prepared, NSC is promoting National Fire Prevention Week Oct. 9-15...
Everyday Heroes: May 15-21 is National EMS Week
“Everyday Heroes” is the theme of the 38th annual Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Week, which runs May 15-21 this year to recognize and pay tribute to EMS workers across the nation...
CSB: Combustible Metal Dust Led to Fatal Flash Fire
According to the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB), two separate flash fires at a Hoeganaes Corp. plant, which killed one worker and injured two others, involved accumulated iron dust that became airborne and combusted...
At-Home Safety: Online Tool Sparks Better Fire Sprinkler Decisions
For the builder or buyer of a new home, the decision of whether or not to install a fire sprinkler can be complicated, particularly if you’re not already an expert on the matter. A free National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) online tool helps make that decision a little easier by examining the costs and benefits associated with residential fire sprinklers...
Managing PPE: NFPA Standards: One Number Makes a Big Difference in Protection
Which standard is the most appropriate to use when considering flame-resistant clothing: NFPA 2112 or 2113...
Heart Attacks, Acceptance of Risk Contribute to Increased Firefighter Fatalities
Cultural factors in firefighters’ work environment that promote getting the job done as quickly as possible with whatever resources available lead to an increase in line-of-duty firefighter fatalities, according to researchers at the UGA College of Public Health. The researchers also determined that cardiovascular events, and not smoke inhalation, represent the leading cause of death for firefighters...
CSB Releases Safety Video Depicting Bayer CropScience Fire, Explosion
The U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) released a new safety video depicting events leading to the Aug. 28, 2008, catastrophic explosion and fire at the Bayer CropScience facility in Institute, W.Va., that fatally injured two workers...
House Approves Amendments to Restore Funding to the FIRE Act and SAFER
Fire fighters and fire chiefs across the country have been urging members of Congress to reject a proposal to slash funding for two crucial federal programs that fund public safety and apparently, members of the House listened...
FEMA, Puerto Rico Fire Department Unite in Community Fire Safety Awareness Campaign
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) officials, the Puerto Rico Fire Department and the National Commission on Children and Disasters have launched a new joint public awareness campaign to help keep children and families safer from the threat of home fires...
New CSB Safety Video Highlights Hazards of Gas Releases
The U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) has released a new safety video depicting two major accidents caused by the intentional release of flammable fuel gas near work areas...
NIST: Moisture is Main Ingredient in a Safe Christmas Tree
Once ignited, a dry Fraser fir, one of the most popular Christmas tree choices, bursts into flames in less than 7 seconds and is consumed by fire in about a minute. When a well-watered Fraser fir ignites, however, the flame soon dies. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) researchers videotaped this experiment to demonstrate why keeping a Christmas tree moist can be of life-and-death importance...
OSHA Reissues Shipbreaking National Emphasis Program, Updates Shipyard PPE Directive
OSHA issued two directives on Nov. 4 to update its National Emphasis Program on Shipbreaking and its Enforcement Guidance for Personal Protective Equipment in Shipyard Employment...
ASSE Stresses the Importance of Zoo Safety
With nearly 300 zoos in the United States and more than 1,000 worldwide, zoos represent a form of entertainment and educational activity that has been around for centuries. From the design of animal habitats to procedures for fall protection, fire plans and more, a zoo safety professional’s work is critical to the success of the park, the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) pointed out...
Study Reveals Important Fitness Measures for Firefighters
Two physical fitness measures – aerobic fitness and resistance to muscle fatigue – are key to firefighters’ ability to pass a standard test of firefighting skills, according to a study published in the November issue of The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research...
Panel: Urgent Need to Enhance Preparedness for Domestic Disasters
A panel of retired senior U.S. military officers, former members of Congress, National Guard generals and academics with expertise in responding to domestic disasters have completed a report for Congress and the secretary of defense that details how defense officials can better support the nation’s response to a major disaster on United States soil...
Memorial Service Honors Fallen Firefighters on 9/11 Anniversary
Firefighters from the United States and Canada who perished in the line of duty in the last year were honored at the 24th Annual Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial Ceremony on Sept. 11...
Personal Escape Systems Safe Lives
Most of us will never need to bail out of a building, but knowing how to do it safely, being equipped with the right tools and using a certified personal escape system is essential for every firefighter...
CSB Approves Urgent Recommendations to Prevent Deadly Explosions During Pipe Cleaning and Purging Operations
On June 28, CSB approved series of 18 urgent recommendations aimed at preventing fires and explosions caused when fuel gas is used to clean or purge gas pipes of debris, air or other substances, typically during facility construction and maintenance...
NFPA Report Reveals Sharp Drop in Firefighter Fatalities in 2009
For the first time in 3 years, the number of on-the-job firefighter deaths in the United States has dropped below 100, according to the National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA) newly released annual Firefighter Fatality Report...
NIOSH, USFA Initiate Firefighter Cancer Study
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and the United States Fire Administration (USFA) are partnering on a study to examine the potential for increased risk of cancer among firefighters due to exposures from smoke, soot and other contaminants in the line of duty...
IAFC Launches Wildfire Preparedness Initiative
The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) recently launched Ready, Set, Go!, a new wildland fire preparedness initiative that teaches residents how to prepare their homes against the threat of a wildland fire, assemble emergency supplies, maintain awareness and evacuate safely...
FR Clothing: Leaving Hazards in the Dust
Imperial Sugar now outfits its work force in FR clothing. Learn how and why FR clothing can best protect your own employees...
