Safety
Lawmakers: FDA Fell Short In Policing Pharmacy
April 17, 2013 8:16 am | by Matthew Perrone, AP Health Writer | News | CommentsRepublicans and Democrats took turns chastising the FDA for not being aggressive enough in going after compounding pharmacies like the New England Compounding Center, the specialty pharmacy which produced tainted pain injections that have sickened more than 700 people and killed 53 others.
Q&A: Safety On Ice
April 16, 2013 9:22 pm | by Lindsey Jahn, Associated Editor, Food Manufacturing | Articles | CommentsAmmonia refrigeration leaks pose both safety and economic risks to food companies, but many are unaware of these hazards. Attorney J. Tom Boer spoke with Food Manufacturing about ammonia refrigeration regulations and how manufacturers can ensure their system’s safety.
Conn. Bill Requires Labeling Of BPA
April 16, 2013 1:47 pm | News | CommentsThe legislative proposal builds on current state law, which prohibits the manufacture, sale, or distribution in Connecticut of certain products containing bisphenol-A. The list includes reusable food or beverage containers, plastic containers or jars that hold infant formula or baby food, and thermal or cash register receipt paper.
BP Faces $1B Lawsuit For Texas Refinery Gas Leak
April 16, 2013 1:21 pm | News | CommentsMore than 470 people are suing BP for $1 billion, saying they became sick due to a 15-day gas leak at its refinery in Texas City.The Galveston County Daily News reports that BP says mercaptan leaked from a storage tank in November 2011.
EU: Tests Show No Safety Issues With Horsemeat
April 16, 2013 11:05 am | News | CommentsThe tests also showed the veterinary anti-inflammatory drug phenylbutazone, or bute, was present about .50 percent of the horse meat. Bute is banned for human use because in rare cases it causes severe side effects, but veterinary experts say there is little risk from consuming small amounts of the drug in horse meat.
IAEA Reviewing Cleanup At Damaged Japan Nuke Plant
April 15, 2013 7:09 pm | by Mari Yamaguchi, Associated Press | News | CommentsThe U.N.'s nuclear watchdog agency Monday began reviewing the decommissioning process at Japan's crippled nuclear plant, where new problems are triggering growing safety concerns about a cleanup expected to take decades. The experts will assess and analyze melted reactors, radiation levels and waste management at the Fukushima Dai-ichi plant to make its decommissioning process safer and more stable.
Louisiana Company Recalls 468K Pounds Of Meat
April 15, 2013 2:38 pm | News | CommentsThe Manda Packing Company recall announced this past week now includes 468,000 pounds of roast beef, ham, turkey breast, tasso pork, ham shanks, hog headcheese, corned beef, and pastrami. The agriculture department said Friday the products were recalled because of possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes.
Vermont Firms Lauded For Workplace Safety
April 15, 2013 2:37 pm | News | CommentsThe Governor's Award for Outstanding Workplace Safety — the highest such award in the state — goes annually to recipients in six categories. Bio Tek Instruments of Winooski won in the large business category, Asten Johnson of Williston won in the medium business category and Cardno ATC of Williston won in the small business category.
FDA Reviewing Heart Risks Of Glaxo Diabetes Pill
April 15, 2013 2:34 pm | by Matthew Perrone, AP Health Writer | News | CommentsThe Food and Drug Administration will hold a meeting in June to reassess the safety of GlaxoSmithKline's former blockbuster drug Avandia, which was severely restricted in 2010 due to concerns about its impact on the heart. Regulators announced the highly unusual move in a government notice published on Friday.
Who Will Support And Refurbish Your UPS?
April 15, 2013 10:32 am | by Jeff Boudreau, Acumentrics | Articles | CommentsMany uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) are built to be rugged, reliable and to withstand years of tough use. But let’s face it — even products built for punishing military and industrial environments are not going to last forever. When things go wrong, you’ll have a decision to make.
Retailers Recall Potentially Dangerous Magnet Sets
April 15, 2013 8:14 am | by Mary Clare Jalonick, Associated Press | News | CommentsThe Consumer Product Safety Commission said Friday that Barnes & Noble, Bed Bath & Beyond, Brookstone, Marbles the Brain Store, ThinkGeek and Hallmark retailers are recalling "Buckyballs" and "Buckycubes" after the CPSC received 54 reports of children and teens ingesting the product, with all but one of those requiring medical intervention.
Abbott Recalls Blood Glucose Meters
April 15, 2013 8:12 am | News | CommentsAbbott Laboratories is recalling its FreeStyle InsuLinx Blood Glucose Meters after finding that they display and store incorrect test results for dangerously high blood sugar levels. The company says the meters will display and store readings for blood glucose levels of 1,024 milligrams per deciliter or higher at much lower levels.
Jury Finds Helmet Maker Riddell Negligent
April 15, 2013 7:47 am | by Catherine Tsai, Associated Press | News | CommentsThe jury awarded $11.5 million to the family of Rhett Ridolfi, who suffered a concussion during practice at Trinidad High School in 2008. Ridolfi, now 22, wasn't immediately taken to the hospital and now has severe brain damage, as well as paralysis on his left side.
FDA Cites Sanitary Issues At Specialty Pharmacies
April 12, 2013 10:19 am | News | CommentsThe Food and Drug Administration says it has uncovered troubling sterility problems at 30 specialty pharmacies that were inspected following a recent outbreak of meningitis caused by contaminated drugs. The agency said its inspectors targeted 31 compounding pharmacies that produce sterile drugs.
Toyota, Honda, Nissan Announce Air Bag Recall
April 11, 2013 2:45 am | by Yuri Kageyama, AP Business Writer | News | CommentsThe recall for air bags made by Japan's Takata Corp. affects other automakers including non-Japanese manufacturers, and may be as many as 3 million vehicles, Takata spokeswoman Akiko Watanabe said Thursday. She declined to give details.
Judge: University Must Shield 'Pink Slime' Data
April 10, 2013 11:15 am | by Ryan J. Foley, Associated Press | News | CommentsA judge has blocked Iowa State University from releasing documents about food safety research conducted for the maker of the beef product that critics call "pink slime." District Judge Dale Ruigh ruled last month that releasing the information would cause "irreparable harm" to Sioux Falls, SD-based Beef Products, Inc.
Chrysler To Recall SUVs For Drive Shaft Problem
April 9, 2013 2:41 pm | News | CommentsChrysler says in documents filed with the government that a heat shield can drop and rub against the drive shaft, causing it to wear and break. If the shaft breaks, the SUVs will lose power and the side air bags may inflate. Chrysler says it doesn't know of any crashes or injuries from the problem.
Wal-Mart Donates $1.6M To Promote Fire Safety
April 9, 2013 2:08 pm | News | CommentsWal-Mart Stores Inc. says it will donate $1.6 million to toward health and safety education in Bangladesh, three months after a fire swept through a factory there, killing 112. The fire raised questions about safety in Bangladesh's garment industry, which exports clothes to leading Western retailers.
BioFit Promotes Resolution To Increase Use Of Ergonomic Seating
April 9, 2013 12:04 pm | Products | CommentsBioFit Engineered Products is dedicating 2013 to reinforcing the idea that worker safety and productivity can be improved through the proper use of ergonomics. The company says all of its products, including the full line of seating products, offer full adjustability for better ergonomic support.
U.S. Approves Return Of Drug For Morning Sickness
April 8, 2013 8:32 pm | by Lauran Neergaard, AP Medical Writer | News | CommentsA treatment pulled off the market 30 years ago has won Food and Drug Administration approval again as the only drug specifically designated to treat morning sickness. That long-ago safety scare, prompted by hundreds of lawsuits claiming birth defects, proved to be a false alarm.
Japan Experts Say New Nuclear Safety Plans Too Lax
April 8, 2013 1:42 pm | by Mari Yamaguchi, Associated Press | News | CommentsThe investigators told parliament on Monday that the recently formed Nuclear Regulation Authority is merely rubber-stamping TEPCO's work at the plant, which is still using makeshift equipment put together after the March 2011 disaster, caused by a massive earthquake and tsunami in northeastern Japan.
AutomationDirect Expands Interlock Safety Switch Offering
April 8, 2013 11:04 am | Products | CommentsAutomationDirect has announced an expansion to its line of safety products with additional tongue interlock and cable-pull safety switches. The tongue-operated safety interlock switches are designed to fit to the leading edge of sliding, hinged or lift-off machine guards.
7 Workers Die Inside Mexico Brewery Tank
April 8, 2013 8:20 am | by Olga R. Rodriguez, Associated Press | News | CommentsA spokeswoman for city prosecutors says the accident occurred early Sunday and that investigators are looking into whether the workers died from inhaling toxic fumes. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because she was not authorized to discuss the case.
Trial Begins Over Baby Food Lead Warning
April 8, 2013 8:05 am | by Jason Dearen, Associated Press | News | CommentsThe nation's largest baby food makers face a lawsuit by an environmental group aimed at forcing them to alert consumers that some products contains low amounts of lead. The case scheduled for trial Monday will determine whether they should put warning labels on such products sold in California.
Explosion At Ga. Power Plant Under Investigation
April 5, 2013 7:55 am | News | CommentsThe explosion happened at Unit 2 of Plant Bowen while it was offline for maintenance work, said Chuck Eaton, chairman of the Georgia Public Service Commission, which regulates power utilities. Eaton said he was briefed by Georgia Power officials.
