DOE's Perry forms office to bolster energy security
U.S. Secretary of Energy Rick Perry is establishing a new Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response (CESER) at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). $96 million in funding for the office was included in President Trump's Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 budget request to bolster DOE's efforts in cybersecurity and energy security.
"DOE plays a vital role in protecting our natio n's energy infrastructure from cyber threats, physical attack and natural disaster, and as secretary, I have no higher priority," said Secretary Perry. "This new office best positions the department to address the emerging threats of tomorrow while protecting the reliable flow of energy to Americans today."
The creation of the CESER office will elevate the department's focus on energy infrastructure protection and will enable more coordinated preparedness and response to natural and man-made threats.
For more information, visit www. energy.gov or call (202) 586-5000.
New safety standard considered global milestone
Every day around the world, more than 7,600 lives are lost due to work-related incidents and diseases -- nearly 2.8 million fatalities a year. To combat this global safety issue, a new safety standard has been approved after five years in the making: ISO 45001 Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems, spearheaded by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) with support from the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE). The voluntary consensus standard provides a framework that can increase employee safety, reduce workplace risks and improve business outcomes worldwide.
Many organizations are transitioning to a management-systems approach as a better way to control organizational risk and achieve a measure of corporate social responsibility. These comprehensive systems help companies combat well-known workplace hazards such as falls, which are a leading cause of on-the-job injuries and deaths.
For more information, visit www.asse. org or call (847) 699-2929.
AFPM tells Congress CFATS is working
American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM) President and CEO Chet Thompson recently testified before the House Committee on Homeland Security on the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) Program. In his testimony, Thompson outlined the progress of the program and urged Congress to pass a multi-year reauthorization with some targeted improvements.
"The safety and security of our member company employees, contractors and surrounding communities is of the highest importance to AFPM's members," Thompson noted. "Protecting critical infrastructure against potential threats or terrorist attacks is a shared responsibility between government and our companies that our members take very seriously."
For more information, visit www. afpm.org or call (202) 457-0480.
Nearly half of construction worker deaths involve falls
The recently created Construction FACE Database shows in a 33-year period, falls accounted for nearly half of all construction worker deaths, according to the CPWR -- Center for Construction Research and Training.
Using data from the NIOSH Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation program, researchers found fatality reports for 768 construction industry fatalities. After analyzing the incidents, researchers concluded, between 1982 and 2015:
- 42 percent of the fatalities involved falls.
- 54 percent of workers killed had no access to a personal fall arrest system (PFAS), and 23 percent had access to a PFAS but did not use it.
- 107 of the 325 falls were from 30 feet or higher.
- 20 percent of deaths occurred in the victims' first two months on the job.
For more information, visit www.cpwr. com or call (301) 578-8500.
President proposes $199.9M for BSEE budget for FY19
President Trump has proposed a $199.9 million Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 budget for the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE). The 2019 BSEE budget fully supports the safe and environmentally responsible development of the nation's vast offshore energy resources.
The FY 2019 budget request includes an estimate of $67.9 million in offsetting collections. Offsetting collections includes $20.3 million for rental receipts, $3.8 million for cost recoveries and $43.8 million for inspection fees.
"The president's proposed FY 2019 budget will enable BSEE to fulfill its mission to ensure the safe and environmentally sustainable exploration, development and production of America's offshore energy resources," said Director Scott A. Angelle.
For more information, visit www. bsee.gov or www.doi.gov/budget/ appropriations/2019.