Public Administration

Emmitsburg, MD — The U.S. Fire Administration recently published a guide that outlines approaches fire departments can take to address on-the-job organizational, operational and community risks.

Washington — Fatal motor vehicle crashes among law enforcement officers are on course for their lowest total since the 1980s, according to an analysis by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s National Center for Statistics and Analysis.

Emmitsburg, MD — Eighty-nine firefighters were killed on the job in 2016, compared with 90 in 2015 and 94 in 2014, according to the U.S. Fire Administration’s recently released annual report detailing on-duty firefighter fatalities.

Philadelphia – Female firefighters who feel unwelcome or shunned in the male-dominated culture at some firehouses are less likely to be active participants in the department’s safety culture, according to a new study from Drexel University.

Washington – A Federal Interagency Working Group coordinated by the White House National Security Council has developed safety recommendations for first responders exposed to fentanyl, a synthetic opioid considered up to 50 times more potent than heroin.

Boston – Massachusetts is closer to extending OSHA protections to an estimated 400,000 public workers after the state’s House on Oct. 25 voted unanimously in favor of a bill (H. 3952) that boosts safety standards for all state and municipal government employees.

Washington – Mandatory guidelines for drug testing of federal employees have been updated to include testing for four semi-synthetic opioids, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration recently announced.

Washington – Emergency medical services workers have higher rates of work-related injuries than the general workforce and three times the lost workday rate of all private-industry workers, according to a new fact sheet from NIOSH.

Washington – NIOSH has launched a software platform designed to chart emergency responder and recovery worker safety and health before, during and after providing aid to natural disasters victims or other public health emergencies.

Atlanta – Workers in higher socioeconomic jobs may face an increased risk of death from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease, according to a recent study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.