ASSE Joins in Opposing NIOSH AgFF and ERC Funding Cuts in FY13 Administration Budget
ASSE has joined with 127 other NIOSH stakeholders to voice opposition to the Obama Administration’s proposed elimination of funding for Education and Resource Centers and the NORA Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing (AgFF) research program in letters to leaders of the Senate and House Appropriations Subcommittees on Labor, HHS, Education and Related Committees. Congress rejected these same cuts in the FY 2012 budget, but the Administration is [...]
Read MoreNorris and Michaels Sign Renewed ASSE-OSHA Alliance
On March 16, ASSE President Terrie Norris and Assistant Secretary David Michaels signed a renewed Alliance agreement between ASSE and OSHA. The overall goal of the two-year Alliance is to promote best practices for reducing and preventing worker exposures to health and physical hazards. More specifically, ASSE and OSHA will continue work together to address non-English or limited English-speaking workers especially through [...]
Read MoreNano SNURs Can’t Overlook Engineering Controls, ASSE Tells EPA
ASSE submitted a comment on an EPA proposed rule to set significant new use rules (SNURs) for chemical substances, 7 of which included carbon nanotubes. For those substances involving nanotechnology, ASSE told EPA it could not ignore established industrial hygiene and safety practice, NIOSH and its own research by not requring the hierarchy of controls to be followed in protecting workers under the SNURs. ASSE said, [...]
Read MoreOSHA Looking for Info on Reinforced Concrete in Construction, Preventing Backover Injuries and Fatalities
OSHA has published a Request for Information on employee safety risks in two areas, reinforcing operations in concrete work (construction only) and fatal backovers by vehicles and equipment (all industries). The RFI requests information that will assist the Agency in determining what steps, if any, it can take to prevent injuries and fatalities in these [...]
Read MoreLatest in the Federal Budget Fight over OSHA and MSHA
On March 28, 2012, DoL Secretary Hilda Solis testified before the House Appropropriations Subcommittee On Labor, Health And Human Services, Education And Related Agencies. Her testimony, at http://www.dol.gov/_sec/media/congress/20120328_solis.htm, outlined the following on OSHA and MSHA in the Adminisration’s request – Occupational Safety and Health. OSHA uses enforcement and compliance assistance activities to ensure that this [...]
Read MoreResponsibility for Upper Big Branch at Issue in DC
On March 27, Assistant Secretary for MSHA, Joe Main, testified before the House Committee on Education and the Workforce about MSHA’s investigation into the April 2010 Upper Big Branch mine explosion in West Virginia that killed 29 miners. You can read his testimony at http://www.dol.gov/_sec/media/congress/20120327_Main.htm. At debate in DC now is who is to blame for [...]
Read MoreOSHA Revises Hazard Communication Standard
From OSHA QuickTakes – To better protect workers from hazardous chemicals, OSHA has revised its Hazard Communication Standard (HCS), aligning with the United Nations’ global chemical labeling system (GHS). The revised standard, once implemented, will prevent an estimated 43 deaths and result in an estimated $475.2 million in enhanced productivity for U.S. businesses each year. [...]
Read MoreOSHA Issues Memo on Safety Incentive and Disincentive Policies
From OSHA QuickTakes – In a March 12 memo to OSHA Regional Administrators and whistleblower investigative staff, OSHA’s Deputy Assistant Secretary Richard Fairfax addressed workplace policies and practices that can discourage workers from reporting injuries and could constitute unlawful discrimination and a violation of section 11(c) of the OSH Act, or other whistleblower protection statutes. [...]
Read MoreNew OSHA NEP for Nursing and Residential Care Facilities
April 5, 2012 US Labor Department’s OSHA announces new National Emphasis Program for Nursing and Residential Care Facilities WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration today announced a new National Emphasis Program for Nursing and Residential Care Facilities to protect workers from serious safety and health hazards that are common [...]
Read MoreEPA Announces Fines for Lead RRP Violators
April 5, 2012 EPA Fines Violators of the Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced three enforcement actions for violations of the Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule (RRP) and other lead rules. The RRP rule requires the use of lead-safe work practices to ensure that common [...]
Read MoreASSE Transportation Practice Specialty Develops Resource on Avoiding Distracted Driving
In time for Distracted Driving Awareness Month in April, ASSE’s Transportation Practice Specialy has developed a new tip sheet on “Avoiding Distracted Driving” available on a newly established Prevent Distracted Driving ASSE website providing additional distracted driving resources. Ernie Harper of ASSE’s Government Affairs Committee also helped develop the tip sheet.
Read MoreOSHA Announces Harwood Grant Availability
OSHA announced the availability of approximately $1.2 million for Susan Harwood Training Program Grants under the following categories: Targeted Topic Training, and Training and Educational Materials Development Grants. Grant applications must be received electronically by the Grants.gov system no later than 4:30 p.m., E.T., on Thursday, May 17, 2012. The complete Susan Harwood Training Grant [...]
Read MoreCSB Seeks Comments on Draft Strategic Plan
The U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) announced it is requesting public comments on its draft 2012-2016 CSB Strategic Plan. The draft plan is an update of the 2007 – 2012 CSB Strategic Plan, and includes the CSB’s strategic goals, strategic objectives, and associated measures for managing and evaluating agency operations. CSB Chairperson Dr. Rafael Moure-Eraso [...]
Read MoreEmployers with High injury and Illness Rates Get a Letter from Dr. Michaels
From OSHA QuickTakes – To help employers understand and improve their injury and illness rates, Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health, Dr. David Michaels sent letters to approximately 14,900 workplaces with high rates of days away from work, restricted work or job transfer in 2010. For each 100 full-time workers, these employers [...]
Read MoreCalifornia Adopts New PELs
From OSHA QuickTakes – To better protect workers who may be exposed to chemical contaminants, the California Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board has adopted lower permissible exposure limits (PELs) for carbon disulfide, hydrogen fluoride, sulfuric acid, and toluene. California’s OSHSB adopted the new PELs on January 19, and the changes went into effect on [...]
Read MoreMichigan Regulatory Reinvention Report Targets Safety Rules
Michigan’s Office of Regulatory Reinvention released a report, “Recommendations of the Office of Regulatory Reinvention Regarding Workplace Safety Regulations” calling for changing more than 300 Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) rules exceeding federal regulations and eliminating more than 6oo other MIOSHA requirements. Michigan news sources report that Governor Snyder has reviewed the report [...]
Read MoreTales from DC: SBA Office of Advocacy OSHA and MSHA Roundtable Meeting
On March 30, 2012, the Small Business Association, Office of Advocacy held its OSHA/MSHA roundtable, and Justin Winter, Esq. of the Law Office attended on behalf of ASSE. The majority of the roundtable involved analysis and discussion concerning OSHA’s final Global Harmonization Rule and its associated impact on OSHA’s Hazard Communication standard. Maureen Ruskin, Director [...]
Read MoreOSHA Confirms Direct Final Rule Revising Standards Referenced in the Acetylene Standard
OSHA has confirmed the effective date of its direct final rule revising the Acetylene Standard for general industry by updating the reference to a standard published by a standards-developing organization, the Compressed Gas Association. In the December 5, 2011, direct final rule, OSHA stated that it would withdraw the companion proposed rule and confirm the [...]
Read MoreDoT Creates Commercial Bus Safety App
As its Twitter post indicates – “There’s no value in skimping on #safety. Know your carrier w/new mobile #bus #app http://bit.ly/GCJOdM” – the Department of Transportation has created a phone app to check on the safety of commercial bus lines. At, DoT says about the app at http://fastlane.dot.gov/2012/03/saferbus-arrives-in-app-store.html It is a great pleasure to announce [...]
Read MorePHMSA Advisory Bulletin on Post Accident Drug and Alcohol Testing
The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) has issued an Advisory Bulletin concerning its regulations in Part 199 requiring pipeline operators and operators of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) facilities to conduct post-accident drug and alcohol tests of covered employees. Within the mandated timelines after a reportable pipeline accident or incident, operators must drug and [...]
Read MorePHMSA Advisory Bulletin on Drisco8000 High Density Polyethylene Pipe
The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) has issued an Advisory Bulletin to alert operators using Driscopipe[supreg] 8000 High Density Polyethylene Pipe (Drisco8000) of the potential for material degradation. Degradation has been identified on pipe between one-half inch to two inches in diameter that was installed between 1978 and 1999 in desert-like environments in [...]
Read MoreCSB Develops Policy on Employee Participation in Investigations
From CSB – Washington, DC, March 7, 2012 — The U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) announced today that it has developed a new policy on employee participation in investigations that the Board hopes will enhance the vital role played by plant workers in determining root causes of incidents and promoting facility safety. The policy, which was [...]
Read MorePHMSA Rulemaking on Pipeline Damage Prevention Programs
The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) has published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking seeking to revise the Pipeline Safety Regulations to establish criteria and procedures for determining the adequacy of state pipeline excavation damage prevention law enforcement programs; establish an administrative process for making adequacy determinations; establish federal requirements it will enforce in [...]
Read MorePHMSA Seeks Comments on Leak and Valve Studies
The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) has published a Notice of Public Comment offering all stakeholders an opportunity to comment on the scope of recently commissioned studies involving leak detection systems and valves. This action and others described within this notice will support the comprehensive investigation of topics and issues Congress has charged [...]
Read MorePHMSA Advisory Bulletin on Cast Iron Pipe
The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) has issued an Advisory Bulletin to owners and operators of natural gas cast iron distribution pipelines and state pipeline safety representatives. PHMSA states that recent deadly explosions in Philadelphia and Allentown, Pennsylvania involving cast iron pipelines installed in 1942 and 1928, respectively, gained national attention and highlight [...]
Read MorePHMSA Advisory on Implementing National Registry of Pipeline and Liquefied Natural Gas Operators
The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) has issued an Advisory Bulletin advising owners and operators of pipeline facilities of PHMSA’s plan for implementing the national registry of pipeline and liquefied natural gas operators. This notice provides updates to the information contained in a PHMSA Advisory Bulletin published on January 13, 2012 (77 FR [...]
Read MoreOSHA Seeks Applications to Become OTI Training Institute Ed Centers
From OSHA – April 12, 2012 US Department of Labor’s OSHA seeks applications from organizations interested in becoming OSHA Training Institute Education Centers WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration today announced that it is seeking applications from nonprofit organizations for authorization to provide standard classroom instruction on occupational safety [...]
Read MoreGAO Stuff on Food, Pilot Training, Freight Carriers and Pipelines
Food Safety: Preslaughter Interventions Could Reduce E. coli in Cattle. GAO-12-257, March 9. http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-257 Highlights – http://www.gao.gov/assets/590/589162.pdf Aviation Safety: FAA Has An Opportunity to Enhance Safety and Improve Oversight of Initial Pilot Training, GAO-12-537T, March 20 http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-537T Motor Carrier Safety: New Applicant Reviews Should Expand to Identify Freight Carriers Evading Detection, GAO-12-364, March 22 http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-364 [...]
Read MoreASSE Responds to Rep. Walberg Commentary on I2P2
ASSE sent the following letter to the editor in response to a commentary by Representative Tim Walberg (R-MI), Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Workforce Protections, which is responsible for workplace safety and health issues. Dear Washington Examiner: In response to Rep. Tim Walberg’s February 23, 2012, comments on a possible future OSHA standard requiring all [...]
Read MoreASSE States Support for OSHA Rescission of Residential Fall Protection Exemption
In light of the criticism and complaints that have followed the OSHA’s directive rescinding the Interim Fall Protection Compliance Guidelines for Residential Construction, ASSE in a letter to Assistant Secretary David Michaels stated its support for the change in policy as a needed step forward in protecting workers. ASSE also commended OSHA for its efforts to work [...]
Read MoreConsider Lower Noise PEL Instead of Econ Feasibility Interpretation, ASSE Tells OSHA
Adding to previous comments opposing OSHA’s Interpretation of Provisions for Feasible Administrative or Engineering Controls of Occupational Noise, ASSE suggested in a letter to Assistant Secretary David Michaels that a more valuable measure to reduce noise exposures would be lowering OSHA’s permissible exposure limit (PEL) for noise from 90 dBA to 85 dBA. At the lower PEL, however, engineering controls can [...]
Read MoreOSHA Delays I2P2 – Small Businesses Wanted for SBREFA Panel
As the email messages below from SBA and OSHA indicate, OSHA is delaying sending information on its I2P2 rulemaking to the SBA for SBREFA review. Also, if you have a small business client, they may want to participate in the SBREFA process. Contact information is below, or let Dave Heidorn know at dheidorn@asse.org. Safety consulting firms [...]
Read MoreOMB Clears Final OSHA HazCom Rule
The Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs of the Office of Management and Budget has concluded its regulatory review of OSHA’s long-awaited rulemaking to align more closely U.S. hazard communication requirements with the UN’s Globally Harmonized System (GHS) of classifying and labeling chemicals. Any changes to the rulemaking are not known. It will be interesting [...]
Read More2013 Administration Budget Request for Fed Safety Agencies – NIOSH ERCs and AFF Research Again Targeted
On February 13, the White House released and sent to Congress the Administration’s 2013 Budget Request. The following is from Adele Abrams, who is ASSE’s Federal Representative, summarizes Budget Requests for the workplace safety agencies, OSHA, MSHA, NIOSH and CSB. NIOSH The 2013 Budget Request for NIOSH is $249.4 million, compared to 2012 funding of [...]
Read MoreReorg for OSHA Whistleblower Program
OSHA press release – March 1, 2012 WASHINGTON – Moving forward with continuing efforts to strengthen employees’ voices in the workplace, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration today announced a major restructuring of its Office of the Whistleblower Protection Program. The program will now report directly to the agency’s Office of [...]
Read MoreUpper Big Branch Mine Superintendent Charged with Felony Conspiracy
From the US Attorney’s Office, Southern District of West Virginia at http://www.justice.gov/usao/wvs/press_releases/Feb2012/attachments/022212Gary_May_UBB_release.html Feb. 22, 2012 UPPER BIG BRANCH MINE SUPERINTENDENT CHARGED WITH FELONY CONSPIRACY CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Gary May, 43, of Bloomingrose, West Virginia, was charged today with conspiring to impede the Mine Safety and Health Administration’s enforcement [...]
Read MoreOSHA Extends Temporary Enforcement Measures in Residential Construction
From OSHA – February 15, 2012 WASHINGTON –The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) will extend for six months its temporary enforcement measures in residential construction. The temporary enforcement measures, extended through September 15, 2012, include priority free on-site compliance assistance, penalty reductions, extended abatement dates, measures to assure consistency, and [...]
Read MoreCSB Calls for OSHA Dust Standard on Imperial Sugar Explosion Anniversary
From CSB – Statement from CSB Chairman Moure-Eraso on the Four Year Anniversary of the Catastrophic Imperial Sugar Explosion – Chairman Continues to Encourage Industry to Support a Combustible Dust Standard and Applauds Success of Recommendations Tuesday, February 7, 2012, marks the fourth anniversary of the massive sugar dust explosion that killed 14 workers and [...]
Read MoreMSHA Says Metal and Nonmetal Mine Compliance Improving
From DoL – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration today announced that overall compliance with safety and health regulations is improving among the nation’s more than 12,000 metal and nonmetal mining operations. Preliminary data indicate a 14 percent decrease in citations and orders issued at these mines – 74,373 in 2010 [...]
Read MoreNASA Buy Quiet Roadmap Updated
From NASA – The NASA Buy-Quiet Process Roadmap, an online tool for navigating the procurement of low-noise equipment, has a new home. The Roadmap, which has been upgraded and updated over the past several months, is part of the NASA EARLAB Auditory Demonstration Laboratory website, which is now located at http://buyquietroadmap.com. The Roadmap may be [...]
Read MoreNurse Miscarriages Linked to Chemicals at Work
From NIOSH eNews – A new NIOSH study finds a greater-than-expected risk of miscarriages among nurses, associated with occupational exposures to hazardous drugs. The full study is available at http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0002937811024707.
Read MoreStudy Links Solvent Exposure to Increased Parkinson Disease Risk
From a Twitter post by NIOSHConstruct Construction @ NIOSH, comes a study in the Annals of Neurology reporting that exposure to specific solvents may increase risk of Parkinson Disease. See the abstract at http://bit.ly/AgsCf2. Improving Safety and Health Training for Disaster Cleanup Workers: Lessons Learned from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill From NIEHS – [...]
Read MoreEPA Issues Permit for Stormwater Discharges from Construction Sites
From EPA – February 16, 2012 New permit includes more protections for waterways, shaped by important public and stakeholder feedback WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is issuing a new permit, in accordance with the Clean Water Act, that will provide streamlined permitting to thousands of construction operators, while protecting our nation’s waterways [...]
Read MoreEPA Final Rule on Electronics Manufacturing Heat Transfer Fluid Provisions
The EPA has finalized technical revisions to the electronics manufacturing source category of the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule related to fluorinated heat transfer fluids. EPA has finalized amendments to the definition of fluorinated heat transfer fluids and to the provisions to estimate and report emissions from fluorinated heat transfer fluids. This final rule is narrow [...]
Read MoreGAO Stuff on Pipelines and Superfund
Safety Effects of Less Prescriptive Requirements for Low-Stress Natural Gas Transmission Pipelines Are Uncertain. GAO-12-389R, February 16. http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-389R Superfund: Status of EPA’s Efforts to Improve Its Management and Oversight of Special Accounts, GAO-12-109, January 18. http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-109 Diesel Pollution: Fragmented Federal Programs That Reduce Mobile Source Emissions Could Be Improved, GAO-12-261, February 7. http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-261
Read MoreStudy Finds Quarter Trillion Cost in 2007 Workplace Injuries and Illnesses
The Milbank Quarterly, a journal of population health and health policy, has published a study by J. Paul Leigh of UC-Davis estimating the national costs of occupational injury and illness among US civilians in 2007. The abstract can be found at http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1468-0009.2011.00648.x/full. The findings are summarized as follows – “The number of fatal and nonfatal [...]
Read MoreRAND California Study Indicates What Makes an I2P2 Standard Work
A RAND Corporation study conducted by John Mendeloff and others for the California Commission on Health and Safety and Workers’ Compensation provided an evaluation of the effectiveness of California’s I2P2 standard. The preliminary draft of the report can be found at https://www.dir.ca.gov/chswc/Reports/2012/IIPPEvaluation.pdf While the report did not find significant results in better fatality data in [...]
Read MoreOSHA Issues I2P2 White Paper Ahead of Proposal First Look
As the Small Business Administration begins the process of engaging what will be a panel of small businesses in a review of a proposed OSHA injury and illness prevention program (I2P2) standard through the SBREFA process that all OSHA rulemaking must undergo (http://www.sba.gov/advocacy/825), the OSH trade press is reporting that OSHA will release the first [...]
Read MoreASSE Stands Against Reported California Effort to Corner PEL Work for CIHs
On behalf of its nearly 3,000 members in California, ASSE sent a letter to the sponsor of state legislation that has been reported will be used by the California Industrial Hygiene Council (CIHC) to ensure that only CIHs would be able to supervise or direct the monitoring of control methods for PELs in California workplaces. In response to the letter, the bill’s [...]
Read MoreASSE Nominates Gary Lopez to ACCSH
ASSE nominated Gary Lopez to OSHA’s Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and Health (ACCSH). Gary is a widely respected Professional Member of ASSE with strong experience in managing workplace safety and health risks in the construction industry. He is a founding member of the committee that oversaw and continues to manage the development of the ANSI/AIHA Z10-2005, [...]
Read MoreOSHA Releases Fall 2011 Reg Agenda January 2012
On January 20, the Department of Labor announced its Fall 2011 regulatory agenda. The agenda itself can be found at http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owasrch.search_form?p_doc_type=UNIFIED_AGENDA&p_toc_level=0. The Department’s Statement of Regulatory Priorities explaining the agenda in the context of its overall Good Jobs for Everyone initiative as well as its Plan/Prevent/Protect Compliance Strategy (http://www.dol.gov/regulations/2010RegNarrative.htm) can be found at http://www.dol.gov/asp/regs/Fall2011RegAgenda.pdf. Two [...]
Read MoreFour Final Rules on MSHA Reg Agenda
As with OSHA, the Department of Labor’s Statement of Regulatory Priorities explaining the agenda in the context of its overall Good Jobs for Everyone initiative as well as its Plan/Prevent/Protect Compliance Strategy (http://www.dol.gov/regulations/2010RegNarrative.htm) can be found at http://www.dol.gov/asp/regs/Fall2011RegAgenda.pdf. MSHA’s rule list can be found at http://www.msha.gov/regsinf1.htm. In the final rule stage are rules to Lowering [...]
Read MoreStudy Finds 2007 Costs of Workplace Injuries and Illnesses $250 Billion
The Milbank Quarterly, a journal of population health and health policy, has published a study by J. Paul Leigh of UC-Davis estimating the national costs of occupational injury and illness among US civilians in 2007. The abstract can be found at http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1468-0009.2011.00648.x/full. The findings are summarized as follows – “The number of fatal and nonfatal [...]
Read MoreOSHA Analyzes the Costs of Falls in Construction
From OSHA QuickTakes – A new OSHA PowerPoint presentation shows the heavy financial cost resulting from falls in construction. OSHA analyzed workers’ compensation data for injuries resulting from falls from elevations suffered by roofers and carpenters. The data, which covers 2005-2007, comes from 38 states, which comprises approximately 1/3 of total workers’ compensation benefits. OSHA’s [...]
Read MoreDuke Study Finds Obesity Increases Workers Comp Costs
From the study, which can be found at http://www.dukehealth.org/health_library/news/10044 “Gaining too much weight can be as bad for an employer’s bottom line as it is for a person’s waistline. A Duke University Medical Center analysis found that obese workers filed twice the number of workers’ compensation claims, had seven times higher medical costs from those [...]
Read MoreOSHA Reminds Employers to Post Injury and Illness Summaries Beginning Feb. 1
From OSHA QuickTakes – Beginning Feb. 1, employers who are required to keep the OSHA Form 300 Injury and Illness log must post a summary of the log. Employers must post OSHA’s Form 300A from Feb. 1 to April 30, 2012 in a common area wherever notices to workers are usually posted. The summary must [...]
Read MoreOSHA Updates Directive for Fed Worker Targeted Inspection Program
From OSHA QuickTakes – OSHA recently updated its Federal Agency Targeting Inspection Program (FEDTARG) directive for fiscal year 2012. FEDTARG directs programmed inspections of federal agency establishments that experienced high numbers of lost time injuries during FY 2011. The directive outlines the procedures for carrying out programmed inspections at some of the most hazardous federal [...]
Read MoreMSHA Announces Third Phase of Rules to Live By
From MSHA – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration today (January 31) launched the third phase of an outreach and enforcement program designed to strengthen efforts to prevent mining fatalities. “Rules to Live By III: Preventing Common Mining Deaths” will focus on 14 safety standards that were chosen because violations related [...]
Read MoreMSHA Announces 2011 Fatality Data
From MSHA – 01/05/2012 MSHA releases preliminary fatality data for 2011 ARLINGTON, Va. — Preliminary data from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration released today reveal that 37 miners died in work-related accidents at the nation’s mines in 2011. There were 21 coal mining and 16 metal/nonmetal mining fatalities last year, [...]
Read MoreNational Academies Lays Out Research Strategy for Nano Risks
The National Academy of Sciences has issued a report A Research Strategy for Environmental, Health, and Safety Aspects of Engineered Nanomaterials stating that, because not enough is known about the potential risks nanomaterils pose to health and the environment, those risks need to be studied further. The report lays out a strategic approach for developing [...]
Read MoreIts Inspector General Says EPA Must Manage Nano Risks Better
From the summary at http://www.epa.gov/oig/reports/2012/20121229-12-P-0162_glance.pdf . “We found that EPA does not currently have sufficient information or processes to effectively manage the human health and environmental risks of nanomaterials. EPA has the statutory authority to regulate nanomaterials but currently lacks the environmental and human health exposure and toxicological data to do so effectively. The Agency [...]
Read MoreOSHA Posts Summary Report of Stakeholder Meeting on Preventing Occupational Hearing Loss
ASSE was represented at this meeting by Tom Cecich, VP for the Council on Professional Affairs – From OSHA QuickTakes – OSHA held an informal stakeholder meeting Nov. 3, 2011, on preventing occupational hearing loss to provide a public forum and gather information on the best practices for noise reduction in the workplace. The meeting [...]
Read MoreFeds Issue Memo on Engaging in Voluntary Consensus Standards Activities
The Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) have issued a memorandum clarifying principles for federal engagement in voluntary consensus standards activities to address national priorities. Sent to the leadership of U.S. federal executive departments and agencies, the [...]
Read MoreNew NIOSH Dust Monitor is Commercialized
The NIOSH Office of Mine Safety and Health Research in Pittsburgh has developed a new personal dust monitor that recently was commercialized as the Personal Dust Monitor 3600 (PDM). NIOSH believes the monitor will modernize how coal dust exposure in the mining industry is monitored. It has the ability to provide real-time, continuous coal dust [...]
Read MoreNew OSHA Training Videos in English and Spanish on Respirator Use
From OSHA QuickTakes – OSHA has posted a series of 17 videos to help workers learn about the proper use of respirators on the job. These short videos, nine in English and eight in Spanish, provide valuable information to workers in general industry and construction. Topics include OSHA’s Respiratory Standard, respirator use, training, fit-testing and [...]
Read MoreTales from DC: US-Canada Regulatory Cooperation Council on GHS
From Adele Abrams, Esq., ASSE’s Federal Representative – On January 31, 2012, I represented ASSE at a meeting of the US/Canada Regulatory Cooperation Council (RCC) at the US Department of Commerce. This was a day-long meeting covering various areas affected by the Global Harmonization Standard (GHS) that was developed through a United Nations project starting [...]
Read MoreCSB Calls for National Fire Code for Hazardous Waste Handling in Ohio Investigation
From CSB – December 26, 2011 Investigation Details: EQ Hazardous Waste Plant Explosions and Fire; Veolia Environmental Services Flammable Vapor Explosion and Fire Today as many people enjoy a holiday season spent with friends and family, I would like to call attention to a recent tragedy that occurred late last week in eastern Ohio. On [...]
Read MoreEnvironmental Group Uses Health Costs to Argue Against Coal in Kentucky
The Kentucky Environmental Foundation has issued a report using health research to make an argument against the use of coal in Kentucky. The report is available at The Health Impact Assessment on Coal and Clean Energy Options in Kentucky.
Read MoreCSB Video on TN Hoeganaes Incidents that Killed 5
From CSB – Washington DC, January 5, 2012 – The U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) today released a new safety video depicting three accidents involving combustible iron dust at the Hoeganaes Corporation in Gallatin, Tennessee. The video, entitled “Iron in the Fire,” features three computer animations showing how fine metal particles were lofted and ignited in two [...]
Read MoreNew OSHA Spanish Translations of Intro to OSHA for Outreach Training Program
From OSHA’s Directorate of Cooperative and State Programs – OSHA has issued Spanish translations of the “Introduction to OSHA” component of its Outreach Training Program curriculum. This two-hour training component emphasizes workers’ rights and is required content in every 10- and 30-hour OSHA Construction, General Industry, and Maritime Outreach Training Program class. The “Introduction to [...]
Read MoreEU Parliament Approves Review of Strategy for Safety and Health at Work
From the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work – The Parliament’s report highlights the need to protect women, young people, ageing and migrant workers in Europe’s workplaces. MSDs and work related stress are pointed out as main areas of concern for European enterprises in relation to OSH. The report says it is important to [...]
Read MoreEU-OSHA Offers Guide on Incentives
From the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work – This Guide on Economic Incentives Schemes is intended to serve as a practical and user-friendly guide to help incentive providers to create or optimise their own economic incentive schemes. Incentives schemes should not only reward past results of good OSH management (such as low [...]
Read MoreEPA on Penalties for On-Highway Heavy-Duty Diesel Engines
EPA is taking final action to make nonconformance penalties (NCPs) available to manufacturers of heavy heavy-duty diesel engines in model years 2012 and 2013 for emissions of oxides of nitrogen (NOX). In general, the availability of NCPs allows a manufacturer of heavy-duty engines (HDEs) whose engines fail to conform to specified applicable emission standards, but [...]
Read MorePHMS Publishes Random Drug Testing Rate
The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) has given notice of its minimum annual percentage rate for random drug testing for covered employees, which will remain at 25 percent during calendar year 2012. http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2012-01-18/html/2012-740.htm
Read MorePHMSA on National Registry of Pipeline and Liquefied Natural Gas Operators
The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) published a notice advising owners and operators of pipeline facilities of PHMSA’s plan regarding the implementation of the national registry of pipeline and liquefied natural gas operators. The national pipeline operator registry became effective on January 1, 2012. It is primarily applicable to operators that file electronic [...]
Read MoreOSH Responsibilities Switch from DoE to TOSHA at Some Oak Ridge Facilities
An Addendum to the Memorandum of Understanding between the Department of Labor and the Department of Energy has been signed to transfer employee safety and health authority from the Department of Energy (DOE) to the Tennessee Occupational Safety and Health Administration (TOSHA) at two existing building complexes and three other parcels of land at the [...]
Read MoreEPA Issues National Mercury Pollution Standards for Power Plants
From EPA – December 21, 2011 Historic ‘mercury and air toxics standards’ meet 20-year old requirement to cut dangerous smokestack emissions WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards, the first national standards to protect American families from power plant emissions of mercury and toxic [...]
Read MoreEPA Releases Greenhouse Gas Emissions Data from Large Facilities
From EPA – January 11, 2012 2010 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Data from Large Facilities Now Available First release of data through the national GHG reporting program WASHINGTON – For the first time, comprehensive greenhouse gas (GHG) data reported directly from large facilities and suppliers across the country are now easily accessible to the public through [...]
Read MoreGAO Stuff
Hardrock Mining: BLM Needs to Revise Its Systems for Assessing the Adequacy of Financial Assurances. GAO-12-189R, December 12 (8 pages) http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-189R Chemical Assessments: Challenges Remain with EPA’s Integrated Risk Information System Program. GAO-12-42, December 9. http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-42 Highlights – http://www.gao.gov/assets/590/586626.pdf
Read MoreASSE Supports NTSB Call for Ban on Use of Portable Electronic Devices While Driving
The following press release carried ASSE’s message supporting the National Transportation Safety Board’s (NTSB) call for a nationwide ban on driver use of portable electronic devices while operating a motor vehicle. NTSB’s press release can be found at http://www.ntsb.gov/news/2011/111213.html AMERICAN SOCIETY OF SAFETY ENGINEERS SUPPORT NTSB’S CALL FOR BAN ON USE OF PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICES [...]
Read MoreASSE Nominates Ron Sokol for NACOSH
In a letter letter to Assistant Secretary for OSHA David Michaels, ASSE nominated Ron Sokol, CSP, for NACOSH. Among is various accomplishments, Ron serves as the President and CEO of the Safety Council of Texas City (SCTC), which provides safety and health services to the petrochemical industry, and is a member of ASSE’s Government Affairs [...]
Read MoreASSE and OSHA Meet to Discuss Risk Management Issues
On November 21, 2011, an ASSE delegation consisting of President Terrie Norris, Jim Newberry, Thad Nosal, Manager of Gov’t Affairs and Policy Dave Heidorn and ASSE’s Federal Representative Adele Abrams met at OSHA headquarters with OSHA staff members that included Assistant Secretary David Michaels, Glenn Shor of the California Division of Workers’ Compensation who is [...]
Read MoreOSH Agencies in FY 2012 Funding Bill
As indicated in this news release from the House Appropriations Committee Chairman at http://appropriations.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=272984, Congress on December 16 passed into law the Conference Report on the Consolidated Appropriations Act of Fiscal Year 2012. The following outlines funding for the current year, FY 2012, and replaces the continuing resolutions that had provided funding for the year. [...]
Read MoreCorporate Culture Cited as Root Cause of Upper Big Branch Mine Disaster: 369 citations, $10.8 Million in Civil Penalties
From Department of Labor – The 20-month investigation into the worst coal mining disaster in 40 years came to an end this week. In back-to-back meetings with family members and the public, Assistant Secretary of Labor for the Mine Safety and Health Administration Joseph Main, Solicitor of Labor M. Patricia Smith and MSHA Administrator [...]
Read MoreSecretary Solis on Upper Big Branch Agreement
From the Department of Labor at http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/msha/MSHA20111738.htm 12/6/2011 – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today issued the following statement in response to the agreement announced today among the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia, the U.S. Department of Justice, Alpha Natural Resources Inc. and Alpha Appalachia Holdings Inc., formerly known [...]
Read MoreCongress Passes Bipartisan Pipeline Safety Bill
As this information from a Congressman at http://shuster.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=49&itemid=241 and a Senator at http://www.feinstein.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=3ab185f7-3754-4373-b5ef-91e013061d20 indicate, Congress can agree on something and that’s a pipeline safety bill. The summary of the bill from Thomas can be found at http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/D?d112:1:./temp/~bdJdKp:@@@D&summ2=m&|/home/LgislativeData.php indicates, the bill puts the following measures into law – Pipeline Safety, Regulatory Certainty, and Job Creation Act [...]
Read MoreTales from DC: December 14-15 NACOSH Meeting
From the Law Offices of Adele Abarms, ASSE’s Federal Representative – On behalf of ASSE I attended the 2-day meeting of the National Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety and Health (NACOSH) on December 14-15, 2011, held at the Department of Labor Perkins Building. Dr.John Howard, Director of NIOSH, began the first day with an update [...]
Read MoreTales from DC: December 15 ACCSH Meeting
From the Law Offices of Adele Abrams, ASSE’s Federal Representative – OSHA held a meeting of the Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and Health (ACCSH) from Dec.13-16, 2011, in Washington, D.C. The Law Office represented ASSE at the portion held on Dec. 15th. The agenda included an update on OSHA’s construction enforcement and outreach efforts, [...]
Read MoreNational Academy Calls for System Safety Approach in Offshore Drilling
The following is a press release from the National Academies of Science from http://www8.nationalacademies.org/onpinews/newsitem.aspx?RecordID=13273 Dec. 14, 2011 Industry, Regulators Should Take ‘System Safety’ Approach to Offshore Drilling in Aftermath of Deepwater Horizon Accident, Says New Report WASHINGTON — To reduce the risk of another accident as catastrophic as the Deepwater Horizon explosion and oil spill, [...]
Read MoreDC Circuit Court Upholds OSHA’s Multi-Employer Citation Policy
From OSHA QuickTakes – The D.C. Circuit upheld OSHA’s multi-employer citation policy, in a Dec. 14 decision against Summit Contractors Inc. OSHA cited the company for providing electrical equipment without ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) to its subcontractors in violation of section 1926.404(b)(1)(ii) of OSHA’s Electrical Wiring Design and Protection standard. OSHA’s multi-employer citation policy [...]
Read MoreOSHA Launches NEP on Chemical Facilities
From OSHA – OSHA issued a new National Emphasis Program (NEP) for chemical facilities to protect workers from catastrophic releases of highly hazardous chemicals. The new NEP replaces OSHA’s 2009 pilot Chemical Emphasis Program that covered several OSHA regions around the country. The program (http://www.osha.gov/OshDoc/Directive_pdf/CPL_02_09-06.pdf) establishes policies and procedures for inspecting workplaces that are covered by OSHA’s [...]
Read MoreOSHA Publishes Direct Final Rule on Acetylene Standard
From OSHA QuickTakes – OSHA published a revision to its Acetylene Standard in the December 5, 2011, Federal Register that replaces a reference to an outdated consensus standard with an updated reference that reflects current industry practices in the acetylene industry. The reference was originally updated in 2009 based on recommendations by the Compressed Gas [...]
Read MoreFMCSA and PHMSA Issues Final Rule on Restricting Use of Cellular Phones
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) have published a final rule amending the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) and the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR) to restrict the use of hand-held mobile telephones by drivers of commercial motor vehicles (CMVs). This rulemaking will improve safety on [...]
Read MoreOSHA Advances NAOSH Week
ASSE greatly appreciates all that OSHA through its alliance program has done to support NAOSH Week. This message is sent to OSHA’s alliance partners by the Office of Outreach Services and Alliances within the Directorate of Cooperative and State Programs – As many of you may know from your Alliance Implementation Team meetings, through the [...]
Read MoreOSHA Seeks Nominations to ACCSH
OSHA has invited interested persons to submit nominations for membership on ACCSH. Three new employer representatives, three new employee representatives, one new representative of state safety and health agencies, and one new public representative will be appointed. Nominations are due January 23, 2012. http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2011-11-23/html/2011-30194.htm
Read MoreNew Findings Show Construction Workers Face Higher Occupational Risks
From NIOSH eNews – Dr. Sue Dong of CPWR—the Center for Construction Research and Training— recently presented new research findings at the American Public Health Association conference, showing that construction workers have a significantly higher lifetime risk of premature death due to occupational injury (1/200 chance of dying from a work-related injury over a 45-year [...]
Read MoreEnzi Raises Concern Over Delay in Naming BLS Commissioner
From Senator Enzi’s office – November 29, 2011 Enzi Concerned with Delayed Nominations for Labor Agency Questions Labor Sec. Solis and White House Chief Daley on Lack of BLS Nominee WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.), Ranking Member on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, sent letters today to Department [...]
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