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. [ + ]

The Designer Drugs Session to be held in conjunction with T2013: the 20th International Council on Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic Safety Conference will profile synthetic cannabinoids as the new face of drug abuse, investigate the epidemiological background on the latest new drugs in Europe, present case studies on driver intoxication, and unveil new ways for screening and confirmation of the presence of these new drugs in drugged drivers. [ + ]

Luis Garcia, a Certified Functional Safety Expert with more than 20 years of experience in the field, has authored a paper on the impacts of the IEC61508 changes, providing an in-depth view on the scope of this new standard and how to best work with these new requirements. This Q&A with Garcia covers Route 2H Implications on IEC 61508. [ + ]

Construction firm Hansen Yuncken has recently introduced a ‘glove and clip policy’ to encourage broad acceptance of the need for hand protection. [ + ]

The Wormald team installed advanced MX Technology fire detection systems at each of Deakin University’s three campuses, which are interconnected using the university’s intranet. [ + ]

Every day, workers around the world are risking their lives as they are exposed to the risk of flash fire, electrical arc flash and molten metal splash. In the split second when such a dangerous situation does occur, providing the right FR clothing can make the difference between avoiding a disaster involving serious injury, or death. [ + ]

For electrical maintenance workers and contractors, working hands-on with hazardous and potentially dangerous energy sources, conductors, circuit parts and other energised parts is a common component of their everyday routine. While there is no substitute for maintaining safe working conditions, accidents - especially electric arcs - can happen in an instant, no matter how experienced a worker may be. 

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