S+H Staff

Washington – The National Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council is scheduled to meet Sept. 7-8 in Arlington, VA, to discuss a draft culture of safety strategy, among other topics.

Washington – A new report analyzing five occupational safety and health rules found that despite initial opposition, the rules saved thousands of lives and prevented thousands of injuries.

Quincy, MA – The standard stop, drop and roll technique may not help extinguish flames stemming from gel fuel, the National Fire Protection Association warned on Aug. 11. Gel fuels commonly are used as an ignition source in fire pots, personal fireplaces and some patio torches.

Sandy, UT – A new free mobile application from OSHA is intended to help workers and supervisors monitor the heat index at their worksites.

Tumwater, WA – Washington state’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health is scheduled to host a stakeholder meeting Aug. 25 to begin working on a rule for stay of abatement requests.

Washington – Workers’ compensation costs for employers declined 7.6 percent in 2009 and the number of workers covered fell 4.4 percent, which a new report attributes to the recent recession.

Stockholm – Reducing work hours to allow for an employee exercise program may be beneficial to a company’s bottom line, suggests a Swedish study released Aug. 15.

Jim Johnson, group vice president of workplace initiatives, will represent the National Safety Council at the 2011 NORA Manufacturing Sector Conference in Cincinnati, OH, Sept. 7-8, 2011.

Atlanta – Athletes need to take extra precautions when working out in the heat, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention cautioned this week. Each year, an average of 6,000 emergency department visits occur as a result of sports and recreation-related heat illnesses, the agency said.

Washington – The Department of Transportation on Aug. 10 released guidance to help states understand the agricultural community’s exemptions from certain transportation regulations.