Fire/EMS

Washington – The Emergency Response and Preparedness Subcommittee of OSHA’s National Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety and Health is slated to meet May 16-17 in Washington.

Washington – A new training resource aims to provide emergency responders with important information and best practices for responding to rail incidents involving flammable liquids such as crude oil and ethanol.

Philadelphia – Emergency medical technicians and paramedics are 14 times more likely than firefighters to be assaulted on the job but rarely report assault-related injuries, according to a study from Drexel University.

Tumwater, WA – Thermal stress caused by intense heat during live fires, including live-fire training exercises, could cause the facepiece lenses on firefighters’ self-contained breathing apparatus to worsen rapidly and fail, warns a new hazard bulletin from the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries.

Washington – Congress has reauthorized funding for the World Trade Center Health Program, which provides care and medical coverage to workers who responded during the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Washington – NIOSH has developed the first database of firefighter body measurements, aiming to help improve the design and safety of firefighter equipment.

Quincy, MA – Firefighter injuries in 2014 decreased almost 4 percent from the previous year, according to a report from the National Fire Protection Association.

Greenbelt, MD – For a limited time, the National Volunteer Fire Council is offering 16 health and safety classes at no cost.

Quincy, MA – A newly funded research project aims to determine if current methods are sufficient for removing toxins from firefighters’ personal protective equipment.

Gaithersburg, MD – A four-year effort on the part of researchers has led to recent safety improvements for emergency responders and an updated standard for ambulance design.