ASSE Joins in Opposing NIOSH AgFF and ERC Funding Cuts in Administration’s FY13 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 Renew 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 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 New 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 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 MoreASSE Signals Opposition to 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. Since CIHs are not uniquely qualified to [...]
Read MoreASSE Commends NIOSH for National Assessment of OSH Workforce Report
In a letter to Director John Howard, ASSE commended NIOSH for the publication of its National Assessment of the Occupational Safety and Health Workforce report (http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/oshworkforce/), the first look at occupational safety and health workforce issues since the Institute of Medicine’s Safe Work in the 21st Century (http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?isbn=0309070260) study in 2000. The report addresses how SH&E professionals are educated and trained, the means [...]
Read MoreASSE Urges OIRA to Let OSHA Silica Rulemaking Move Forward So All Stakeholders Can Be Heard
In a letter to Cass Sunstein, Administrator of the Office of Management and Budget’s Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) in the White House, ASSE urged his office to do everything possible to advance OSHA rulemaking on Occupational Exposure to Crystalline Silica so that ASSE’s members can play a meaningful part in seeing that OSHA promulgates an [...]
Read MoreASSE Comments on OSHA’s Proposed Reporting Requirement Changes
In a comment for the record, ASSE said it could not support proposed changes to OSHA’s reporting rules from the current requirement that employers report within 8 hours fatalities and in-patient hospitalizations of 3 or more employees to 1 or more employees and to add the requirements that amputations be reported within 24 hours. ASSE said it does not believe, given OSHA’s resources and the practical difficulties employers face in reporting, that [...]
Read MoreI2P2: The California Experience
In the current discussion over OSHA’s efforts to advance rulemaking on an injury and illness prevention program (I2P2) standard, NIOSH Director and former Cal OSHA Chief John Howard has given presentations on California’s experience with an I2P2 standard. On July 15, Dr. Howard gave his California I2P2 presentation at the Small Business Labor Safety (OSHA/MSHA) Roundtable held by the Office of Advocacy [...]
Read MoreASSE Backs MSHA FY 2012 Budget Request
ASSE expressed support for MSHA’s $384.3 FY 2012 budget request in a letter to House Appropriations Committee leaders. “We believe that safety in mines will be enhanced not by ‘less MSHA’ but by ‘a better MSHA,’” the letter stated. Full funding of MSHA’s budget request will allow MSHA to provide funding for improved dust monitoring in coal mines through the purchase of [...]
Read MoreSecretary Solis Congratulates ASSE on 100th Anniversary
In a video played first at the opening session of Safety 2011 in Chicago, Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis congratulated ASSE on its 100th Anniversary, noting OSHA’s 40th Anniversary, ASSE’s alliance and the shared goal of the Department of Labor, OSHA and ASSE in helping make sure all jobs are safe jobs. Secretary Solis also commemorated ASSE in [...]
Read MoreIn 100th Year of Safety, ASSE Offers OSH Reform Legislative Proposal
In the 100th year of ASSE and modern occupational safety, ASSE offered leaders of the key U.S. Senate and House of Representative committees responsible for workplace safety and health oversight draft legislation to address needed reforms in federal law to help improve U.S. workplace safety and health. ASSE’s first occupational safety and health draft reform proposal Enhancing Occupational Safety and Health Protections [...]
Read MoreNorth Carolina ASSE Members Urge Senator Hagan to Back VPP Bill
A letter on behalf of ASSE’s members in North Carolina urges Senator Kay Hagan (D-NC) to join in sponsoring the Voluntary Protection Program Act (S. 807), a bill to place OSHA’s Voluntary Protectiion Program into the Occupational Safety and Health Act, ensuring that OSHA will continue the program. The bipartisan bill was sponsored by Senator Michael B. Enzi (R-WY) [...]
Read MoreASSE Supports FY 2012 Budget Request for OSHA
In a letter to House Appropriations Committee leaders, ASSE stated its support for the Administration’s FY 2012 budget request for OSHA. If adopted, the $583.4 million request would give the agency a 4.3 percent increase over OSHA’s FY 2010 budget. ASSE specifically supported increases for OSHA’s standards activities, federal compliance assistance, state plans and whistleblower programs. ASSE urged recognition of the cost [...]
Read MoreBipartisan Effort to Codify VPP Backed by ASSE
Bipartisan legislation introduced in the U.S. Senate and House to place OSHA’s Voluntary Protectiion Program (VPP) into law and ensure the program’s future has received ASSE’s support. In letters to Senators Enzi and Landrieu for S 807 and Representatives Petri and Green for HR 1511, ASSE expressed its strong support for VPP. Senator Enzi and Rep. Petri are Republicans. [...]
Read MoreASSE Government Affairs Committee’s Annual Capitol Hill Visits
ASSE’s Government Affairs Committee met in Washington DC May 1-3 in conjunction with NAOSH Week for a meeting and to conduct its annual Capitol Hill Visits. Below is a schedule of visits they made and the issues discussed. [l to r] Bill Propes (TX), Mike Neason (KY), CoPA VP Tom Cecich (NC), Ron Sokol (TX), Chair Jim [...]
Read MoreOSHA Celebrates 40th Anniversary with Video and Photo Contest
In the same year ASSE is celebrating its centennial year, OSHA is celebrating its 40th Anniversary. To mark this milestone, OSHA has released a video on its 40 years and announced a photo contest Picture It! Safe Workplaces for Everyone to encourage those 18 years or older to capture an image of workplace safety and health and share it with OSHA. Assistant Secretary [...]
Read MoreCSB Budget Request Gets ASSE Support
ASSE stated its support for the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board’s (CSB) FY 2012 budget request of $12.8 million in letters to Senate and House leaders of the Appropriations Subcommittees on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies. ASSE said its members valued CSB’s response to chemical incidents,investigations and the information CSB shares in its reports and recommendations. Increased investigations would provide its members greater information on [...]
Read MoreASSE Supports Member Jones for CSB
In a letter to the White House, ASSE stated its support for Jerry L. Jones, a member, to be nominated to the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board.
Read MoreASSE Comments on MSHA PoV Proposed Rule
ASSE submitted comments on the Mine Safety and Health Administration’s Proposed Rule Pattern of Violation (PoV) intended to strengthen MSHA’s ability to find that a mine has a recurring pattern of violations requiring heightened oversight by MSHA. The comment supported the development of POV criteria, adding transparencyto the process, and expanding adjudicated enforcement actions that can be used in [...]
Read MoreFederal OSH Agencies Fare Well in New CR – EPA Slashed
In the latest Continuing Resolution for the remainder of FY 2011, the April 11 deal that is now up for a vote in Congress nearly $40 billion is cut from the federal budget through September. EPA is cut 16%, one of the biggest percentage cuts in the whole bill, $1.6 billion less than FY 2010. However, safety and health agencies have fared well – NIOSH There’s [...]
Read MoreASSE and 110 Other Stakeholders Join to Oppose FY ’12 NIOSH Budget Cuts
In a letter to Senate and House Appropriations Subcommittee leaders, 111 Friends of NIOSH joined together to voice opposition to proposed cuts to NIOSH’s Agricultural, Forestry and Fishing program and its support for Educational Resource Centers (ERCs) contained in the Obama Administration’s FY 2012 budget proposal.
Read MoreJoin in Opposing Proposed FY 2012 Cuts to NIOSH Ag, Forestry and Fishing Program and ERCs
Please join ASSE in opposing the Obama Administration’s proposed FY 2012 budget elimination of two significant NIOSH activities - the Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing (AFF) Program and Educational Research Centers (ERCs). ASSE’s letter to leaders of Senate and House Appropriations Subcommittees on Labor, HHS, Education and Related Committees focused on the importance of these programs to ASSE members, the safety of workers and US competitiveness and the [...]
Read MoreASSE Opposes Administration’s Proposed FY ’12 Cuts to NIOSH Ag, Forestry & Fishing and ERCs
ASSE voiced opposition to the Obama Administration’s proposed FY 2012 budget cuts to two significant NIOSH activities - the Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing (AFF) Program and Educational Research Centers (ERCs). The letter to Senator Tom Harkin, Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, HHS, Education and Related Committees focused on the importance of these programs to ASSE members, the safety of workers and [...]
Read MoreASSE Opposes U.S. House Cuts to OSHA in FY 2011 Budget Battle
In a letter to the leadership of the House Appropriations Committee’s Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies, ASSE states its opposition to significant cutbacks to OSHA funding proposed in the House of Representatives’ HR 1 as a Continuing Resolution for the remainder of the federal government’s FY 2011 budget. ASSE said a 17.7 [...]
Read MoreASSE Comments on OSHA’s Interpretation of Hearing Protection Economic Feasibility
In submitting a comment on OSHA’s withdrawn Interpretation of Provisions for Feasible Administrative or Engineering Controls of Occupational Noise, ASSE said OSHA was correct in attempting to ensure that employers are appropriately recognizing the hierarchy of controls in minimizing noise risks. ASSE did not believe, however, that OSHA staff were prepared to make economic feasibility determinations that would be required. To assure stakeholders and learn more about making such determinations, [...]
Read MoreASSE’s Michigan Members Oppose Bill to End MIOSHA
ASSE’s members in Michigan have stated their staunch support for Michigan’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) in a letter to the sponsor of a bill (SB 14) bill that would abolish the state plan. Michigan members cited the agency’s ability to work flexibly with employers, unique consultation services, its positive budget return to the state and, most importantly, the [...]
Read More2011 Fed OSH Agency Appropriations Battle Details
Dominating the occupational safety and health debate in Washington, DC, in 2011 will be Congressional appropriations for OSHA, NIOSH, CSB and MSHA. Below are the current proposals. On the left are provisions contained in a bill passed by the House on February 19 that would continue funding for FY 2011. Funding now is based on [...]
Read MoreASSE Members in Maryland Oppose Bill to Create New IH Designations
ASSE members in Maryland have taken a stand against a bill that would establish two new industrial hygiene designations in the state. In an ASSE Region IV letter to the bill’s sponsor, members opposed the bill because it exacerbated the confusion employers already face in determining quality, recognized professional designations in the occupational safety and health field and inappropriately recognized a membership organization, giving that [...]
Read MoreASSE and AIHA Call for Study to Find Best Place for NIOSH
In a joint letter to Rep. John Kline, Chairman of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, ASSE and AIHA joined together to call for a GAO study to determine the best location for the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) in the federal government. NIOSH is now part of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) under the Department [...]
Read MoreSecretary Solis February 14 Web Chat on Labor Budget
Secretary of labor to host live Web chat on department’s fiscal year 2012 budget request Feb. 14 WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis and assistant secretaries from U.S. Department of Labor agencies will host a live Web chat to discuss the department’s fiscal year 2012 budget request on Monday, Feb. 14, at 1:30 [...]
Read MoreASSE Shares View of OSHA I2P2 Rulemaking with House Oversight Committee
In a letter to Representative Darrell Issa, Chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, ASSE expressed its support for OSHA’s injury and illness prevention program (I2P2) standard rulemaking but shared its December 2010 letter to Assistant Secretary for OSHA David Michaels stating the principles ASSE will use in helping determine its engagement in the rulemaking [...]
Read MoreASSE Sets Principles for OSHA I2P2 Rulemaking
In a letter to OSHA Assistant Secretary David Michaels, ASSE applauded him for beginning the task of promulgating an injury and illness prevention program (I2P2) standard, which ASSE has long wanted OSHA to pursue. Set out in the letter are 10 principles to help guide ASSE’s engagement in I2P2 rulemaking. ASSE urged OSHA to consider [...]
Read MoreASSE Comments on Latest Mine Reform Bill
ASSE provided comments to House Education and Labor Committee Chair George Miller on the latest version of his Mine Act reform legislation in the US House of Representatives, the Robert C. Byrd Miner Safety and Health Act of 2010 (HR 6495). A House vote is expected in the lame duck session. ASSE noted its concern [...]
Read MoreASSE’s Michigan Members Continue Opposition to Sanitarian Licensure Substitute Bill
Following opposition from ASSE and others, the House sponsor of a Michigan bill (HB 6205) to license sanitarians offered a last-minute Substitute that quickly passed the Michigan House on November 10. ASSE opposed the original bill because it would have required a sanitarian license to do occupational safety and health and environmental health. The Substitute [...]
Read MoreASSE Opposes OSHA Proposed Changes in Consultation Program
Citing its past work with OSHA and OSHA’s efforts to address recognized difficulties in getting small businesses to commit to workplace safety and health, ASSE opposed proposed changes to its consultation program making it easier for OSHA to inspect small employers engaged in consultation but make small employers even more fearful to use OSHA’s consultative [...]
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