Page 66 - Occupational Health & Safety, May 2017

INDUSTRY UPDATE
(continued from page 12)
selection of the final winners — up to three winners are expected to be announced on July 31, 2020, to share an amount up to $20 million, subject to the availability of funds.
The diagnostic tests being sought in this competition identify and characterize antibiotic-resistant bacteria or distinguish between viral and bacterial infections to inform treatment decisions and reduce unnecessary use of antibiotics, which is a major cause of drug resistance. “We were quite pleased with the number of new and innovative concepts we received for this first phase of the competition,” said Rob- ert W. Eisinger, Ph.D., special assistant for scientific projects in the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Office of the Director. “The response underscores the level of importance the scientific com- munity places on this critical issue.”
The prize is sponsored by two U.S. De- partment of Health and Human Services components, the National Institutes of Health and the Biomedical Advanced Re- search and Development Authority within the HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response.
The semifinalists are:
■ Antimicrobial Resistance Rapid, Point-of-Need Diagnostic Test Challenge: Richard Anderson, Becton, Dickinson and Company, Franklin Lakes, N.J.
■ Breath volatile metabolites for the rapid identification of pneumonia etiology: Sophia Koo, Brigham and Women’s Hospi- tal, Boston
■ First Light’s MultiPath platform: Don Straus, First Light Biosciences, Inc., Bedford, Mass.
■ Host gene expression to classify viral and bacterial infection using rapid multi- plex PCR: Ephraim Tsalik, Duke University
■ Minicare HNL, Point-of-care detec- tion of bacterial infections to curb unnec- essary use of antibiotics: Joe Frassica, Phil- ips North America, Cambridge, Mass.
■ Patient-side, disposable, molecular PCR diagnostic device for STI and Antimi- crobial Resistance Detection: Gregory Loney, Click Diagnostics, Inc., San Jose, Calif.
■ Rapid AMR Test using Spectral Platforms’ Technology: Ravi Kant Verma, Spectral Platforms, Monrovia, Calif.
■ Ultra-Rapid Phenotypical AST by Microbe Mass Measurement: Ken Babock, Affinity Biosensor, Santa Barbara, Calif.
guish Bacterial and Viral Respiratory Infec- tion: Ann Falsey, University of Rochester, Rochester, N.Y.
■ Yale’s One Step, Rapid in vitro Diag- nostic System: Ellen Foxman, Yale University
Bureau Submits Subjects for
2020 Census, Community Survey The U.S. Census Bureau recently delivered its planned subjects for the 2020 Census to Congress as required. The subjects include gender, age, race, ethnicity, relationship, and homeownership status. By law, the bu- reau must deliver decennial census subjects to Congress three years before Census Day, with the next one occurring April 1, 2020.
“Our goal is a complete and accurate census,” Census Bureau Director John H. Thompson said. “In planning for the 2020 Census, the Census Bureau has focused on improving its address list by using imagery, finding ways to increase household self-re- sponse, leveraging resources inside and out- side the government, and making it easier and more efficient for census takers to com- plete their work. Furthermore, for the first time ever, the decennial will offer an online response option with the ultimate goal of improving question design and data quality while addressing community concerns.”
The bureau also submitted to Con- gress its planned subjects for the Ameri- can Community Survey; it is an annual survey that started in 2005. It provides key socioeconomic and housing statistics. The American Community Survey asks about computer and Internet use, commuting, disabilities, occupations, and health insur- ance status.
2016 the Safest Year Ever
for U.S. Railroads
Citing Federal Railroad Administration data, the Association of American Rail- roads reported March 22 that U.S. railroads had the lowest train accident rate on record in 2016 — a 10 percent improvement from 2015, as track-caused accident rates were also at all-time lows. “The 2016 rail safety statistics continue a string of record-setting years, showing this period has been the saf- est ever for the rail sector,” AAR reported.
The association said the key statistics, calculated per million train miles using March 2017 FRA data, include these:
■ The train accident rate is down 44 percent since 2000.
■ The equipment-caused accident rate is down 34 percent since 2000.
■ The track-caused accident rate is down 53 percent since 2000.
■ The derailment rate is down 44 per- cent since 2000.
“Safety is a never-ending, constant pur- suit for the freight rail industry,” said AAR President and CEO Edward R. Hamberger. “We see clear benefits of our investments— made possible through an economic regu- latory framework that allows railroads to earn the revenues needed to invest $635 billion since partial deregulation—and be- lieve strongly in the application of new and transformative technologies.”
During 2016, the employee on duty injury rate dropped by 1.8 percent from the 2015 fate. However, incidents at grade crossings rose by almost 5 percent.
“From an advanced system that uses multidimensional ultrasonic technology to locate defects in tracks before they cre- ate problems, to the use of drones for track and bridge inspections, freight railroads are increasingly technology focused,” said Hamberger.
Awards & Recognition
■ Several Texas employers were recog- nized with awards during the National Safety Council’s 2017 Texas Safety Confer- ence & Expo, which took place March 5-7 in downtown Fort Worth. They received “Our Driving Concern: Texas Employer Traffic Safety Awards,” carrying on a pro- gram started in 2014 by the council in partnership with the Texas Department of Transportation.
Exemplary Awards went to Buffalo Gap Instrumentation & Electrical Co. Inc.; the City of Arlington; Dallas Independent School District Risk Management; and MedStar Mobile Healthcare. Also receiving awards were the City of Irving; the City of San Antonio; the City of Waco; the Port of Corpus Christi; and LeMeilleur’s RV Truck & Equipment Repair Co., Inc. Winning honorable mention were AFC Transporta- tion; Brown Integrity, LLC; CECO Pipeline Services & CECO Compressor; Erath County Offices of TxDOT; Service First Distribution/Mid South Baking; and Titan Directional Drilling.
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