Chester Wholesale Meat improved the safety and efficiency of its cold storage and holding area using Munters IceDry technology. [ + ]

Illicit drug use and alcohol misuse are now recognised as factors that can affect health and safety in the workplace. The same may not be true for prescription drugs. [ + ]

Globally, there are a wide range of laws concerning work in confined spaces with generally the same intent, which is to protect workers when they enter such spaces. They lay out training guidelines and entry procedures and, in most cases, explain the hazards associated with entry. Where the information falls short is the experiences of the people that actually enter the spaces to do the work and the supervisors that oversee it. On-the-job training is a valuable asset that needs to be shared more often. [ + ]

NOJA Power Recloser App, available free from the Apple App Store and compatible with iPhone and iPad, communicates via Wi-Fi link with A=automatic circuit recloser (ACR) allowing electrical utility linesmen to control and interrogate devices without having to climb the pole. [ + ]

If staff are a company’s greatest asset, then it is in the interests of that company to keep them safe and productive. There are obvious forms of protection such as guardrails and automatic machine cut-offs but more sophisticated technology is increasingly being used to address workplace health and safety issues, particularly in industries such as oil and gas, mining and utilities where employees are often working in hazardous and remote locations. [ + ]

You have heard of a ‘shock absorber’ before, but what does it have to do when it comes to fall protection? Or, maybe you have heard of a shock absorber but have you ever wondered how it works? [ + ]

Academic researchers have found that breathing motor vehicle emissions triggers a change in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, altering its cardiovascular protective qualities so that it actually contributes to clogged arteries. [ + ]

Safety precautions are everywhere. Whether it be a handrail and kick boards on a pump station platform or personal protective equipment and safety briefings on a construction site, safety is a critical part of all we do. Initiatives such as ‘Zero Harm’ support the importance of vigilance and safety in every aspect of working life. [ + ]

Working with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), a team of mechanical engineers from the University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin) has been assessing whether flames might be partially responsible for these occurrences. The researchers will present their findings on how flames affect the sound of the PASS alarm at the 21st International Congress on Acoustics (ICA 2013), in Montreal, Canada, to be held from 2 to 7 June 2013. [ + ]

What the new synthetic drugs have identified is actually one of the primary flaws of basing your whole drug and alcohol management strategy on testing. [ + ]

Waterproof fabrics that whisk away sweat could be the latest application of microfluidic technology developed by bioengineers at the University of California, Davis. [ + ]

Following our first cold snap, pest control expert Rentokil urges business owners to be vigilant of rodent infestations to prevent reputation backlash and physical damage to their business. [ + ]

Amid concerns over the potential health effects of existing flame retardants for home furniture, fabrics and other material, scientists are reporting development of an “exceptionally” effective new retardant that appears safer and more environmentally friendly. [ + ]

A new survey shows nine out of 10 Australians think the most significant cause of obesity is too much time sitting down and not exercising. [ + ]

Parsons Brinckerhoff has introduced an in-vehicle monitoring system (IVMS) for its entire fleet of motor vehicles in Australia. [ + ]