Regulatory & Standards


Does OSHA's Jurisdiction Extend to the Baseball Diamond?

According to Richard E. Fairfax, director of OSHA's Enforcement Programs Directorate, the agency does not take enforcement action with regard to professional athletes in most cases.

USFA, IAFF Release Voice Radio Communications Guide

The U.S. Fire Administration has completed a project with the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) to study what important areas of safety and technology discussed in the USFA manual Fire Department Communications Manual - A Basic Guide to System Concepts and Equipment (FA-160) needed to be updated or revised, as well as what topics and technology related to fire department communications not discussed in the manual needed to be added since its development in 1996.

OSHA Answers Questions about Compressed Gas Cylinders

The agency clarifies that a cylinder that contains 20.9 percent oxygen and 79.1 percent nitrogen, which is essentially compressed air, presents no greater oxidation hazard than that of the atmospheric air already present in the workplace and would therefore not be considered an oxygen cylinder or an oxidizing compressed gas for the purposes of 29 CFR 1910.101.

electronic waste

EU e-Waste Directive Unchanged

The European Commission decided Dec. 3 to table a review of the EU Directive on Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment, which aims to increase the reuse and recycling of electronic waste. Electronic equipment manufacturers fear reopening the directive will make them pay for household collection.

EPA, FDA Conclude Genetically Engineered Cotton Incident Poses No Risk

The United States government recently announced that there is no food or feed safety concern from an incident in which a small portion of an unauthorized genetically engineered (GE) cotton variety was harvested along with commercially available GE cotton.

Temp Agency Agrees to Pay More Than $1.8 Million in Back Wages

DOL's suit was filed following an investigation by the department's Wage and Hour Division which disclosed that the company had misclassified as exempt from FLSA's overtime requirements, four employees at its headquarters, and 969 temporary placement employees across the country.

NIOSH mine stoppings explosion test report

NIOSH/MSHA Tests Identify Strongest Ventilation Stoppings

In explosive blast tests at the Pittsburgh Research Laboratory Lake Lyon Experimental Mine, an 8-inch-thick wet-laid solid concrete-block stopping coated on one side withstood the strongest pressure, according to this report.

Minnesota DOL Town Hall Meetings to Discuss Home Fire Sprinklers

Three meetings this month in Rochester, Bemidji, and St. Paul will allow homebuilders and others to discuss potential changes to the building code with Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry Commissioner Steve Sviggum.



OSHA Adds 45 Days for Crane and Derricks Comments

Jan. 22 is the new deadline for written comments on the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. Search RIN 1218-AC01 to post a comment.

FMCSA Improves Commercial Truck, Bus Drivers' Medical Requirements

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) recently announced it took new steps toward improving standards and setting uniform requirements for medical examiners, while also finalizing a streamlined process for combining the commercial driver's license (CDL) and medical certificate records for commercial truck and bus drivers operating on the nation's roads.

rescue robot obstacle course

Responders, Developers Put Rescue Robots to the Test

About 35 robots performed at a Texas facility as developers worked on creating a standard suite of performance tests to help evaluate mechanical rescuers. The tests, shown in this Texas Engineering Extension Service photo, were sponsored by the Department of Homeland Security's Science and Technology Directorate.

Uncorrected Amputation Hazards Add $75,000 to Original $6,000 Fine

"Partial measures don't get the job done," said Arthur Dube, OSHA's area director in Buffalo, N.Y. "Proper lockout/tagout training and procedures must be implemented and maintained completely, effectively, and continuously to safeguard employees against possible injuries."

NTSB Seeks More State Adoption of Most Wanted Safety Items

At a recent press conference, National Transportation Safety Board members reviewed the past year's progress in getting states to enact safety legislation called for in its Most Wanted List of safety improvement. Although there were some modest gains in the past year, NTSB said much more needs to be accomplished before any of the items can be removed from the list.

ERG: An Essential First Responder Resource

In its more than 30 years of existence, the Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG) has been the “go-to” reference for first responders faced with the possibility of a hazardous materials incident— and it will continue to be the essential reference. In order to reflect changes in both domestic and international regulations, the ERG is republished every four years in English, French, and Spanish.

FMLA Revisions Affect Employer & Employee Responsibilities

For example, the revised regulations clarify that calling in "sick" without providing more information is not sufficient notice of the need for FMLA leave.

An image of a stethoscope on a blue background.

HHS Issues Final Rule for Patient Safety Organizations

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has issued a final rule for Patient Safety Organizations (PSOs).

OSHA Cites Florida Transportation Services Following Employee Deaths

OSHA has cited Florida Transportation Services for one willful and four serious safety violations. In May, three employees died after entering a cargo hold filled with argon gas.

Pick Experienced Boss for OSHA, AIHA Urges Transition Team

Lindsay E. Booher, CIH, CSP, the association's president, notes the appointment "could be one of the most important appointments of the new administration."

Intercept, a lab-based oral fluid drug test from OraSure Technologies Inc.

Alternative Specimens Not Added to Federal Drug Testing Programs

The next administration will decide whether oral fluid, hair, and sweat testing are added to federally required testing programs. Agencies raised “significant issues” in their comments that will require more examination, and possibly more studies, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration said.

Underwriters Laboratories Offers Safe Shopping Tips

Underwriters Laboratories, a leading product safety organization, is urging families to focus on safety when purchasing gifts this holiday season. Although families may spend less this year, consumers shouldn't skimp on safety.

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