"We understand the governmental requirements and process that have to be followed, but this unending delay is totally unacceptable," wrote AEM President Dennis Slater in a letter to DOL Secretary Elaine Chao and OSHA head Edwin Foulke.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Food Protection Plan Progress Report, released on July 2 in conjunction with the Interagency Working Group on Import Safety Action Plan Update, shows significant areas of activity to further improve the safety of America's food supply since unveiling its Food Protection Plan in November 2007.
Last year, the United States imported more than $2 trillion worth of products. These products were brought to the United States by roughly 825,000 importers, through more than 300 ports of entry. All projections indicate that this volume will continue to rise, sharply.
“We do not know why such a highly competent leader and administrator of an agency that has been, by any measure, a success in the eyes of our members across the country and the entire safety and health community should not be reappointed,” wrote ASSE President Michael W. Thompson, CSP, in May.
OSHA has cited KMA Manufacturing LLC for numerous alleged safety and health violations following a fatal industrial accident in December 2007. OSHA is proposing a total of $119,400 in fines for the violations.
Citing chronic air quality violations and a lack of response to previous enforcement actions, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection announced a more-than-$6.1-million penalty against Erie Coke and ordered the company immediately to begin operating in compliance with the state's Air Pollution Control Act and its air quality permit.
The final rule calls for "observed collections" for all return-to-duty and follow-up drug testing and any time there is a specific reason to believe an employee may be attempting, or have sufficient reason, to evade the testing process.
The U.S. Department of Labor is soliciting nominations to fill five three-year vacancies on the Advisory Council on Employee Welfare and Pension Benefit Plans, known as the ERISA Advisory Council. The deadline for receipt of nominations is Aug. 31, 2008.
Beginning tomorrow, no driver is permitted to use a hand-held wireless phone while operating a motor vehicle. Drivers over 18 may use hands-free devices only.
Today's public hearing by the interagency group will include the state's lieutenant governor.
The California Labor Commissioner's Office has barred a Vallejo contractor from participating in publicly financed projects for three years because it failed to pay prevailing wages on public works projects in 2006 and 2007.
OSHA has cited Exide Technologies Inc. with 22 serious, two repeat, and one other-than-serious violations of OSHA standards and has proposed penalties totaling $71,000 for allegedly failing to protect employees from exposure to lead and cadmium.
Three other large refineries in the state will have comprehensive inspections, too, under the federal National Emphasis Program spurred by the BP explosion in 2005.
The legislation includes $504 million for OSHA and $346 million for MSHA. This total is an increase of $33.7 million above the FY 2008 level, according to U.S. Senator Tom Harkin, who said the bill "reflects the priorities and values of the American people."
"Few people understand that, on average, four workers are killed every day on U.S. construction sites," said BCTD President Mark H. Ayers.
"It is time to put teeth in the impaired driving laws and make them a true deterrent to help change the cultural acceptance of impaired driving, and, to save lives," wrote ASSE Wisconsin Chapter President Brian Well, in a letter to state legislators.
Among the changes to existing policy, the department will now be mandating maintenance, testing, tracking, and more inspections, Acting Buildings Commissioner Robert D. LiMandri said Tuesday.
The charges filed last Friday include alleged false statements about the quality of work done in a tunnel in which a ceiling panel fell in 2006, killing a motorist.
With chief Edwin Foulke Jr. set to testify at a U.S. House of Representatives committee hearing today, the agency announced the new measures this morning.
The court also rejected a separate appeal by Grace executives who could face prison sentences of up to 15 years each if found guilty.