Fire/Emergency Response News
CSB Provides Update on Safety Progress 5 Years After Little General Propane Explosion
Five years ago on Jan. 30, a propone explosion at the Little General convenience store in Ghent, W.Va., killed four people and injured six others. To mark the anniversary of this tragic event, the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) provided an update on the board's recommendations, which were issued to improve propane technician training and emergency response efforts...
Going Online to Track the Flu
Hospitals may have a new tool at their disposable to better anticipate flu cases in their area. It's simple, it's free, and it's something many Americans use every day. In fact, you might have used it to find this article. Give up? It's Google...
CSB: Dust Control, Housekeeping Failures Led to Fatal Hoeganaes Explosions
On Jan. 5, the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) released a report on the three deadly fires and explosions that occurred at a Hoeganaes Corp. plant in Gallatin, Tenn., in 2011. The report asserts that the accumulation of fine iron powder in the facility led to the explosions, and that Hoeganaes did not take necessary action to prevent these fatal events. CSB also used its report to highlight the need for an OSHA standard on combustible dust...
CSB Calls For Hazardous Waste Facility Safety Standard
On Dec. 17, a chemical fire at an Ohio hazardous waste facility fatally injured one worker and severely burned another. In the aftermath of this incident, U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) Chairman Rafael Moure-Eraso highlighted the importance of creating a national fire code for hazardous waste facilities...
New NIOSH Report Details Deepwater Horizon Responder Demographics
When the Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded on April 20, 2010, thousands of on- and off-shore workers responded to assist with cleanup duties. In a new report, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has released demographic information regarding these response workers, including job responsibilities, use of personal protective equipment, distribution of workers and more...
Idaho Miners Safely Evacuated Following Underground Rock Burst
Hear that? A group of miners was able to let out a sigh of relief when they were safely evacuated from the Lucky Friday mine near Mullan, Idaho, on Dec. 14...
9/11 Responders Suffer Asthma Rates Twice as High as the General Population
The first responders who were on the scene at the World Trade Center (WTC) in New York City on Sept. 11, 2001, face asthma rates that double those of the general population, according to new research...
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...
Are "Cybugs" the Next-Generation Responder?
In the future, some of our first responders might be insects decked out with high-tech communications equipment. New research is investigating the possibility of sending insects wearing cameras and microphones into dangerous environments to gather information in lieu of putting human first responders at risk...
With Support, Police Officers Can Fend Off PTSD
There's no question that members of the police force face traumatic events in the line of duty. According to a new study, however, their work does not necessarily translate to an increased likelihood of experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), particularly if they receive appropriate support...
How Should Natural Disaster Survivors Approach Thanksgiving?
2011 was one of the deadliest years for natural disasters in the United States since Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005. From blizzards to floods to tornadoes, hundreds of people across the country lost their lives. Now, with Thanksgiving approaching, how should the survivors of these disasters approach a holiday based on gratitude?...
9/11 Responders May Face Increased Risk of Dangerous Artery Plaque
Researchers have uncovered a possible link to an increased risk of atherosclerosis – plaque in arteries – among the first responders in New York City who were exposed to the initial dust cloud on 9/11...
Federal Agencies Address Emergency Information Dissemination in the Age of Social Media
When you need important – perhaps even life-or-death – information, you want it now. And with Twitter and smartphones, you probably assume such instant communication should be possible. In response to this evolution in the way we communicate, FEMA and the Department of Homeland Security Science & Technology Directorate (DHS S&T) are working to modernize the dissemination of national warnings and alerts...
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...
HEROES Act Aims to Help First Responders Comply with Communications Upgrade
The Help Emergency Responders Operate Emergency Systems (HEROES) Act, introduced into Congress Sept. 20 in a bipartisan effort, aims to help first responders comply with a federal mandate requiring them to update their communications equipment – without relying solely on local taxpayers’ wallets...
Be Ready: Preparing Your Business for a Disaster
In an effort to promote disaster preparedness during National Preparedness Month this September, Grainger and the American Red Cross offer some tips to help ensure businesses are ready to respond to an emergency event or disaster...
A Time to Remember, a Time to Prepare: September is National Preparedness Month
This September, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is supporting the eighth annual National Preparedness Month to raise awareness and help individuals, communities and businesses prepare for disasters...
The Sound of Silence: 10 Years After 9/11
With Sunday marking the 10-year anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, individuals, communities and organizations across the nation and the world are preparing to participate in remembrances and memorials...
Study: WTC Conditions on 9/11 Led to Higher Cancer Risk for Firefighters
As the 10-year anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks approaches, yet another study suggests 9/11 responders may suffer long-term health effects. The new research, which represents the largest cancer study ever conducted among firefighters, indicates that firefighters who responded to the World Trade Center (WTC) site were at least 19 percent more likely to develop cancer in the following 7 years as compared to other firefighters who weren’t exposed...
An FBI Agent’s Account
This FBI agent describes the Pentagon response on 9/11 – and how that fateful day reinforced his pride in his nation...
10 Years Later: The State of Safety in a Post-9/11 World
Two experts consider how Sept. 11 influenced safety and the EHS profession at large...
9/11: Safety and Health Lessons Learned
On the fifth anniversary of 9/11 in 2006, EHS Today took a closer look at the health consequences responders faced in Manhattan during the rescue, recovery and cleanup operations at the World Trade Center. As these responders discovered, heroism alone cannot ensure safety...
We Are Different Now
Ten years later, EHS leaders look back on 9/11...
AHMP Emergency Response Simulation Shows Importance of Communication, Preparedness
On Aug. 30, the Alliance of Hazardous Materials Professionals (AHMP), along with the University of Texas (UT) at Austin, simulated a response scenario involving a chemical spill. AHMP Executive Director Cedric Calhoun, FASAE, CAE, spoke with EHS Today to discuss the response efforts and the importance of communication and preparedness...
Twitter, Facebook Valuable Communication Tools During Natural Disasters
When phone lines are down and cell towers are out of commission, such as during last week’s earthquake or potentially from Hurricane Irene when it reaches land, Jennifer Regina, a Rowan University (Glassboro, N.J.) adjunct professor of marketing, suggests using social media to contact friends and family...
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | Next
