first responders

Five steps for effective HAZWOPER first-responder training

September 23, 2021

OSHA’s Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER 29 CFR 1910.120, 1926.65, EPA 40 CFR 311), aims at preventing or minimizing worker exposure to hazards during operations and emergency response to unplanned events such as releases or spills. It mandates training for various categories of workers including the First Responder.

Remote project sites require comprehensive emergency response plan

Chris Enright

February 8, 2021

How well an organization plans for emergencies that may occur at remote locations can be the dividing line between tragedy and success story, whether an employee’s life is saved or lost, or if an operation and capital infrastructure is lost due to an incident.

3 U.S. firefighters die in Australian plane crash

January 23, 2020

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison is calling the deaths of three American firefighters in New South Wales “a terrible tragedy.” The three, who were in Australia helping fight that country’s ongoing wildfires, were in a C-130 Hercules firefighting aircraft carrying a load of retardant when the plane went down in New South Wales, according to news reports.

First responders get life-saving sensor readings, video surveillance

Squishy Robots to the rescue

Dave Johnson

June 3, 2019

It’s a bird, it’s a plane… no, it’s a Squishy Robot, dropped from a helicopter or a drone to transmit crucial environmental data to emergency responders at disaster scenes.

Streamlight® donates $20,000 to National Fallen Firefighters Foundation

Company earmarks "Red" product proceeds, renews Bronze Helmet sponsorship

April 25, 2019

Streamlight®, Inc., a leading provider of high-performance lighting for first responders, announced that it donated $20,000 to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF), including $10,000 in proceeds from sales of the company's specially marked NFFF Red Nano Light®, Red Vantage® helmet light, and Red Siege® AA lantern.

Company that invented hard hat acquires Swiss-based safety tech leader

April 3, 2019

Bullard, an innovative global leader in the personal protective equipment market, announced today the acquisition of Switzerland-based Darix™, an award-winning spin-off of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne focusing on improving the situational awareness of professionals in critical environments.

CSB IDs cause of 2016 Pascagoula gas plant explosion

February 20, 2019

The U.S. Chemical Safety Board has released its final report of the June 27, 2016, investigation of an explosion and fire at the Enterprise Products Pascagoula Gas Plant in Pascagoula, MS. The CSB determined that the probable cause was a phenomenon known as thermal fatigue. The CSB also issued recommendations to two trade associations and local emergency responders.

Training is key to using drones for disaster emergency response

February 19, 2019

The UAS Drones Disaster Conferences are designed to bring together government, industry, and academia for two days of learning and live drone flight demonstrations. Taking place in Los Angeles and Miami, these events are organized by the Airborne International Response Team (AIRT), a 501(c)3 non-profit, non-governmental organization that helps people and departments prepare for, respond to, and recover from complex emergencies and major disasters.

How a cop was exposed to fentanyl during a traffic stop

February 5, 2019

The case of a law enforcement officer (LEO) who developed alarming symptoms after a traffic stop highlight can provide lessons for other emergency responders, who are increasingly at risk of being exposed to illicit drugs while on the job. The incident that led to a health hazard evaluation (HHE) occurred in New Hampshire in June 2017. As part of a vehicle search, the officer opened a container of what was suspected to be heroin and fentanyl.

From the NIOSH Director's desk

NIOSH shows its love for PPE by asking, “How clean is clean?”

Dr. John Howard

February 5, 2019

It’s February, which means that Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, and love is in the air. At the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), we like to use this time of year as an opportunity to show our appreciation for the personal protective equipment (PPE) that keeps the people we love safe. In this spirit, NIOSH recently set a goal to improve the safety and health of fire fighters by reducing their exposure to harmful contaminants due to unclean or inadequately cleaned PPE.