Compliance Safety Training

More Roadcheck 2008 results now available

Despite some concerns that a weakening economy combined with ever-increasing fuel prices might push safety to the bottom of the list for commercial motor vehicle fleets, a recent check on the industry shows the lowest rate of out-of-service vehicles in two decades at the 2008 Roadcheck, from June 3-5.

For drivers, the 5.3 percent overall out-of-service rate was a 14.5 percent improvement over last year’s rate, a significant jump. For drivers, there was a significant improvement in hours of service compliance rates, reversing a trend from the past several years. In 2007, 66.3 percent of drivers placed out of service were done so for hours of service violations. In 2008, this number was 55.6 percent. In 2008 3.8 percent of all drivers inspected were placed out of service for an hours-of-service violation, down from 4.9 percent last year.

Despite other positive trends, the number of safety belt Read more…

Substance abuse is a huge, worldwide problem. In the United States alone there are over 50 million binge drinkers, 17 million illegal drug users and almost 15 million people who abuse prescription medications. Most substance abusers have jobs. In fact, it is estimated that one out of every ten workers has a substance abuse problem. An employee with an alcohol or drug problem can decrease productivity, create a hostile work environment and damage a company’s good name. Worst of all, the actions of a worker who is “under the influence” can completely undermine a company’s efforts to keep people safe.The first in a two-part series on dealing with drug and alcohol abuse in the workplace, MARCOM’s
videotape/DVD training program “Dealing with Drug and Alcohol Abuse… for Employees” discusses the various types o Read more…

San Francisco Bay Area commuters will have access to cutting-edge real-time traffic, transit, and road safety information as a result of a $12.4 million partnership announced by the DOT and the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans). The award to Caltrans is part of the new DOT SafeTrip-21 initiative, which will test various ITS technology applications designed to reduce gridlock and traffic-related fatalities and injuries on America’s roadways, and improve public transportation services.The SafeTrip-21 partnership will field test GPS-equipped cellular phones from up to 10,000 volunteer commuters and transit vehicles transmitting data from roads Read more…

With the screening phase of the new chemical facility security standards well under way, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is now requiring high-risk facilities to perform and submit vulnerability assessments for their facilities.Implementation of the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards recently entered its second stage with the launch of the secure, online Security Vulnerability Assessment (SVA) tool. The SVA tool is now available through the DHS online Chemical Security Assessment Tool (CSAT).

High-risk facilities notified
Only high-risk facilities notified of a preliminary tier rating in writing by DHS are required to complete and submit an SVA. Read more…

DHS awards state grants for REAL ID demonstration program

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently announced Fiscal Year 2008 REAL ID Demonstration Grant awards totaling nearly $80 million to assist states in improving security of state-issued driver’s licenses (DL) and identification documents (ID). Grants will fund state-specific projects like improving physical security of licenses, upgrading facility security, and modernizing document imaging and storage.

Funding will also be provided for the development and testing of a verification hub that will enable states to query federal and non-federal document-issuing authorities and verify applicant source documents.

Each of the 48 states and territories that applied for Read more…

The state of NY recently adopted a Bill in State Legislature that will require contractors that work on public works projects to which the State or municipality is the party owner to have their entire workforce trained in the OSHA 10hr Construction Outreach Training Program. The Bill No. A02721A requires public work projects exceeding $250K in total contract work, to contain provisions which require all workers to have completed the OSHA 10hr Construction Outreach Training Course prior to going to work on the public works project by July, 18th 2008.

The New York State Dept. of L Read more…

First responders lack access to tools to identify releases

While the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and other agencies have taken steps to improve homeland defense, local first responders still do not have tools to accurately and immediately identify what, when, where, and how much chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear (CBRN) materials are released in U.S. urban areas — accidentally or by terrorists.

First responders are responsible for responding to terrorist-related and accidental releases of CBRN materials in urban areas. Two primary tools for identifying agents released and their dispersion and effect are:

• Equipment to detect and identify CBRN Read more…