Regulatory & Standards


Fridge Icemakers Devour Kilowatts: NIST

The amount of energy they use and what most of that energy is not used for are surprising. Refrigerators account for 8 percent of total energy use by 111 million U.S. households, according to DOE, which helped to fund this research.

FDA said it decided the 3.0 kGy dose in fresh shell eggs is safe for consumers.

FDA Denies Hearing on Egg Irradiation Rule

The agency rejected all 26 opposing comments it received, including a letter from Public Citizen that FDA addressed point by point.

Marine Transportation Firm Cited for Slew of Safety Hazards

OSHA’s inspection, which began Oct. 4, 2010, found serious violations including the company’s failure to dike a fuel tank, ensure the bi-directional alarm on a powered industrial truck was not defective, and examine industrial trucks before they were put in service.

FMCSA Issues Hundreds of Citations in Enforcement Sweep

The coordinated enforcement strike force issued out-of-service violation citations to 156 drivers and 262 vehicles.

FAA Assigns More Personnel to Air Traffic Control Night Shifts

FAA is taking this action after an incident at Reno-Tahoe International Airport when a controller fell asleep while a medical flight carrying an ill patient was trying to land.

The December 2010 compliance directive said 1926.501(b)(13) would be interpreted as written.

7th Circuit Upholds OSHA Fall Protection Directive

And the panel's reasoning in the April 7 decision offers support for the hearing protection reinterpretation OSHA recently withdrew.

Two Coal Mines Receive POV Notices

They are the first to receive full enforcement action until this section of the Mine Act, according to MSHA, which said its reinspections of 10 mines earlier this year found only these two had increased S&S violation rates.

Failure-to-Abate Notices Add Up to $112,530 in Fines for N.J. Firm

OSHA initiated an inspection on Oct. 21, 2011, in response to a complaint alleging that the employer had not abated safety and health violations cited on July 14, 2010.



Five Texas Companies Cited Following Combustible Dust Flash Fire

OSHA's Dallas Area Office began the investigation Oct. 10, 2010, at the plant after workers were injured while vacuuming explosive dust to clean out a natural gas processing unit.

New OSHA Document Highlights Safe Work Methods for Residential Construction

Directed primarily to those working on new construction, the document describes safety methods employers can implement during stages of construction.

Treatment Center Cited for Workplace Violence Following Employee's Death

OSHA initiated an investigation in October 2010 following the death of one employee and the wounding of another, allegedly committed by a client at the addiction treatment facility.

DOL Seeks Comments on Electronic Disclosure by Employee Benefit Plans

The Department of Labor recently announced it is soliciting public comments to assist in determining whether and possibly how to expand or modify current rules regarding the electronic distribution of employee benefit plan information.

Anyone may petition the HHS secretary to propose regulations to amend the Vaccine Injury Table.

HHS Awaiting IOM Report on Vaccines' Effects

Expected to arrive in early summer, it will review the evidence for adverse health events associated with vaccines covered by the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program.

MSHA Launches Online Pattern-of-Violations Monitoring Tool

The newly developed tool permits mine operators, miners, the media, and the public to determine, based on the most recent data available, how a specific mine matches up with the criteria for a potential pattern of violations.

Amputation at Beef Manufacturing Facility Carries $45,500 in Penalties

Serious and repeat citations were issued for failing to ensure that lockout/tagout devices were used by authorized employees to de-energize a machine.

Chesar helps registrants complete Chemical Safety Assessments for the different uses of a substance as they prepare Chemical Safety Reports.

EU Agency Releases New Chemical Safety Assessment Tool

The European Chemicals Agency made the 1.1.3 version of Chesar available as a free download on April 6. It allows registrants to create full Chemical Safety Reports.

South Dakota Grain Engulfment Brings $378,000 in Fines

At least 26 U.S. workers were killed in grain entrapments last year, and the numbers of entrapments are increasing, according to researchers at Purdue University.

Propane Tank Firm Cited Following Forklift Fatality

OSHA cited the company for 19 safety violations following the October 2010 death of a worker who was ejected and crushed after the forklift he was operating overturned.

NFPA Establishes Sprinkler Antifreeze Requirements

An updated Safety Alert from the National Fire Protection Association addresses the use of antifreeze in new and existing occupancies. It replaces July and August 2010 Alerts that said antifreeze shouldn't be used in residential sprinklers.

MSHA Assistant Secretary Joe Main

Deadline Extended for Comments on POV Changes

MSHA proposed to revise its Pattern of Violations regulation on Feb. 2, and the changes it wants to make are a priority for Assistant Secretary Joe Main. Stakeholders now have until April 18 to submit comments.

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