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Hurricane Irma caused flooding in Naples, Fla., The U.S. Department of Labor has initially committed up to $40 million in Disaster Dislocated Worker Grant funding to Florida, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands to aid in disaster response.

DOL Offering Grants to Aid in Disaster Response Following Irma

Included in DOL assistance is that OSHA is posting guidance to help employers keep their workers safe during cleanup and recovery operations, and most OSHA programmed enforcement actions will halt in affected areas to avoid disrupting recovery operations. An OSHA Emergency Response Team will provide compliance assistance.

Insurance Harder to Find in Fire-Affected Areas of Washington State

Some property insurers are not selling policies in wildfire-affected areas, Washington State Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler pointed out in a Sept. 13 blog post.

Comments Due by Oct. 27 on Canada's Proposed Vaping Regulations

Information that vaping device manufacturers would have to submit would include engineering drawings for devices, the contents of vaping liquids, information on R&D activities, and quarterly sales data. The proposal would require a displayed warning for products that contain nicotine.



OSHA Announces Grain Worker Safety Alliance

The two-year alliance will focus on preventing exposure to hazards associated with grain bin entry, machine guarding, respiratory protection, falls, heat exposure exposures, combustible dust, struck-by equipment, and lockout/tagout.

MSHA Proposes Changes to Workplace Examination Rule

One proposed rule would further the effective date. The other would require that an examination of the working place be conducted before work begins or as miners begin work in that place, and that the examination record include descriptions of adverse conditions that are not corrected promptly and the dates of corrective action for these conditions.

CDPH Offering Online Cannabis Guidance

On the new "Let's Talk Cannabis" website, visitors can find information about legal, safe use and health information. An educational digital toolkit for local governments and community organizations will be posted later, CDPH reported.

NSC's Hersman Welcomes NHTSA Guidance, Wants More from Automakers

"The new guidance supports further development of this important new technology, which has the potential to change the way we travel and how we deliver goods and services," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao.

CSB Meeting Next Week on ExxonMobil Refinery Explosion

The release of isobutane occurred Nov. 22, 2016, in the sulfuric acid alkylation unit at the refinery. Four workers, an employee and three contractors, were severely burned and two others were injured in the incident.

Hawaii Agencies Hosting Meetings on Rat Lungworm Disease

The Department of Health reports that, so far in 2017, there have been 16 laboratory-confirmed cases of the disease statewide. The average number of cases per year statewide typically ranges from two to 11.

NY DOL Sets Public Hearings on Just-in-Time Scheduling

"We can do better, bringing a higher degree of fairness to scheduling practices without penalizing businesses that are creating the important jobs that are growing our economy. Hearing from the public is an important step in striking that balance," New York Commissioner of Labor Roberta Reardon said.

Australian Builder Fined $880,000 in Fatal Collapse

"Floor collapses can be caused by overloading areas with construction materials, the new floor not being structurally completed, or the structural support elements being inadequate or altered. That is why it is critical that builders ensure the load-bearing capacity of floors under construction are known by everyone at the site," WorkSafe Victoria Head of Hazardous Industries and Industry Practice Michael Coffey said.

Oregon OSHA Offers Wildfire Smoke and Heat Stress Tips

With multiple wildfire across the state, the agency has posted tips for indoor air quality concerns, respiratory protection (including voluntary use), and heat stress prevention.

OSHA Renews Alliance to Train El Paso Young Workers

"Job Corps has been an excellent partner with OSHA, communicating safety and health information to their staff and students, and supporting workplace safety," said OSHA Area Director Diego Alvarado Jr. "By recommitting to both our efforts, we are strengthening our ability to promote workplace safety and health to a new generation of workers."

Canada Marks First Firefighters' National Memorial Day

"On Firefighters' National Memorial Day, we all come together to remember and mourn, to support one another, and to celebrate those wonderful lives. The symbolic half-masting of national flags on all federal buildings will inspire Canadians to pause in remembrance of the firefighters in their communities and across the country who have fallen while serving their fellow citizens," said Ralph Goodale, Canada's minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, on Sept. 10.

IAEA Team Completes China Advisory Mission

The team reported China maintains strong and sustainable nuclear security activities and identified a number of good practices, while making recommendations and suggestions for continuous improvement. It was headed by Joseph Sandoval, a member of the technical staff at Sandia National Laboratories.

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