Responder Safety provides news and information
to help emergency managers in government and industry improve the
safety, health and operational effectiveness of emergency responders -
fire, police, EMS, hazmat and other services. For more information about
responder safety, facility security and new technology, visit our
Website www.ehstoday.com.
1. 118 Firefighters Died on Duty in 2008 in
the United States
The United States Fire Administration (USFA) released the report
Firefighter Fatalities in the United States in 2008, which revealed that
of the 118 firefighters who died on duty, 45 died of heart attacks,
which continues to be the most frequent cause of death for firefighters.
2. U.S. Fire Administrator Urges H1N1
Vaccinations for Emergency Responders
With the first deliveries of the H1N1 vaccine already underway, the
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is joining with the United
States Fire Administration (USFA) in recommending that firefighters who
provide emergency medical services (EMS) and EMS workers receive the
H1N1 vaccination as soon as it becomes available in their local
jurisdiction.
3. Inadequate Reactor Cooling System Likely
Culprit in T2 Explosion
The fatal December 2007 explosion and fire at T2 Laboratories in
Jacksonville, Fla., was caused by a runaway chemical reaction that
likely resulted from an inadequate reactor cooling system, investigators
from the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) said in a final draft report
released Sept. 15.
4. OSHA Issues Proposed Rule to Adopt the
Globally Harmonized Hazard Communication System
Calling it the “first step in an aggressive regulatory agenda”
for the Obama administration, acting Assistant Secretary of Labor for
OSHA Jordan Barab announced a proposed rule to align OSHA’s Hazard
Communication Standard (hazcom standard) with provisions of the United
Nations Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of
Chemicals (GHS). The rule was published in the Sept. 30 Federal
Register.
5. Public Urged to Assist with Lightning
Research Project
In conjunction with Fire Prevention Week, the Lightning Safety
Alliance (LSA) is sponsoring a research project to learn more about the
ways that lightning enters and damages homes and buildings.
6. The Plastic Surgeon’s Role in Disaster
Relief Planning
When a terrorist bomb explodes, a tornado rips through a town, a
hurricane devastates a region or wildfires ravage homes and businesses,
plastic surgeons do not typically top the list of emergency responders.
But according to UT Southwestern Medical Center plastic surgeons and
disaster experts, they should.
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Coastal Training Technologies - Pop Quiz
Challenge
You’ve been driving for a while now
and probably know everything you should do to stay safe, right?
See how many questions you can answer correctly to find out.
Street Smarts is the latest addition to
Coastal’s award-winning driver safety series – offers tips
for safe driving while reviewing rules of the road. Street
Smarts joins Driven To
Distraction, Before You Turn The
Key and Emotional Wreck to give
you the resources you need to keep your employees safe while on the
road.
Entries with all correct answers are automatically entered into a
drawing to win a choice of one of the four driver safety series DVDs!
Here is a sneak peek at questions
1&2.
1. How many observations does a driver make in 2
miles?
a. 1,000
b. 30
c. 75
d. 400
2. When talking on a cell phone while driving, which is safer
to use - a handheld or hands free device?
a. A handheld phone
A hands free device
c. They are equally unsafe
They are equally safe Take the quiz today!
In this special podcast edition, EHS Today turns the microphone over to
the experts at ProAct Safety to discuss how to effectively transition
from safety incentive programs to safety reward programs. OR
Proper training and preparation can save lives when disaster
strikes. The nation’s leading disaster preparedness and first aid
experts discuss training, emergency response, equipment and other
factors that can save lives when seconds count. Register now for this live
webinar!
