Regulatory & Standards


The Aug. 4, 2012, effective date gives industry 18 months to implement the changes.

Canada Requiring New Food Allergen Labels

The regulations require specific allergens, sulfites above 10 ppm, and gluten sources be disclosed on a new label. They take effect Aug. 4, 2012, giving industry 18 months to implement the changes.

Six work groups, including a Chemical Emergencies work group, have held several meetings.

March 11 Meeting to Finalize National Conversation Action Agenda

The public meeting in Washington, D.C., will wrap up this phase of the project to strengthen the nation's approach to protecting the public's health from harmful chemical exposures.

Scaffolding Collapse Leads to Fla. Contractor's $69,168 Fine

In October 2010, two employees were painting the inside of a water tank when a suspended scaffold device anchored on the outer surface of a roof hole fell through the hole, causing one side of the scaffold to collapse.

Hearing Brings Hours Rule Showdown

The clock is ticking toward the March 4 deadline for public comments on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s proposed hours of service rule, which is vigorously opposed by the American Trucking Associations.

Disability Violations Lead to Delta's $2 Million Fine

This civil penalty is the largest penalty ever assessed against an airline by the Department of Transportation in a non-safety-related case.

Firm Fined $214,550 for Excessive Noise Levels, Lead Exposure

OSHA initiated an inspection of the facility in August 2010 in response to a complaint and alleges three willful, 18 serious, and two other-than-serious violations of health and safety standards.

Workplace Deaths Rise in Washington; Agriculture Tops the List

The deaths are the most reported since 2006 and a steep climb from the 65 fatalities reported in 2009.

OSHA Estimates LOTO Standard's Burden at 2.9 Million Hours

The estimated number of affected entities is 773,632, while the time to comply can be as much as 80 hours, according to the agency.



NTP Draft Reports to Be Reviewed April 5

The public meeting where a National Toxicology Program Peer Review Panel will review three draft Technical Reports, including one for acrylamide, will be webcast.

Electrical, Repeat Hazards Lead to Mass. Hospital's $63,000 Fine

OSHA found that some hospital employees were exposed to potential electric shock, burns, arc flash incidents, and electrocution while changing circuit breakers on live electrical panels.

DOL Sues Kinder Morgan for Failing to Pay Overtime to 4,500 Workers

DOL claims the company failed to pay more than $1 million in overtime compensation to approximately 4,500 current and former workers. "We will vigorously defend our pay practices in court and expect to be vindicated," the company responded.

Employer payment is required for chemical-resistant gloves, aprons, and clothing when it is used to comply with an OSHA standard.

OSHA Updates Enforcement Guidance for PPE

The new document is sure to help employers because it lists and links to the standards that require them to provide PPE and links to a list of relevant OSHA interpretation letters.

U.S. Labor Secretary Hilda Solis

FY2012 Budget Request: $583 Million for OSHA, $384 Million for MSHA

Ahead of hearings this week by the U.S. House Education & the Workforce Committee, Labor Department leaders explained the details of the administration's request.

Federal Occupational Health is celebrating its 65th anniversary in 2011.

Federal Occupational Health Turns 65

Now serving more than 1.8 million federal workers annually, FOH was created in August 1946 when President Truman signed an amendment to the Public Health Service Act.

U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas

New Bill Filed to Change Positive Train Control Mandate

Calling the current Federal Railroad Administration requirement "an example of regulatory excess that is costing America's businesses billions of dollars with no obvious benefits," sponsoring Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison wants to ensure the mandate applies to the lines that will be used in 2015, not 2008 traffic patterns.

FDA Sets Meeting on Medical Device Innovation Initiative

The March 15 meeting in Silver Spring, Md., is part on a planned strengthening of the Center for Devices and Radiological Health’s 510(k) premarket notification process, which is currently used to clear new AEDs for the marketplace.

USPS Posts $329 Million Loss, Receives $70,000 OSHA Fine

Both were announced Feb. 9. USPS is trying to cut $2 billion in operating costs this fiscal year by cutting 40 million work hours. Since the end of 2007, total employee headcount is down 15.1 percent.

Combustible Dust Exposure Leads to Georgia Company's $55,250 Fine

Serious citations were issued for violations that included exposing workers to explosion hazards resulting from inadequate dust control, exposing workers to dust without respiratory protection, and failing to clean up thick dust accumulations.

U.S. Rep. Darrell Issa, chairman of the House Oversight & Government Reform Committee

Stage is Set for Issa's Regulatory Campaign

The California congressman who chairs the House Oversight panel released 1,947 pages of submissions from trade groups identifying existing or pending regulations they claim are burdensome and eliminate jobs. The committee has set a 9:30 a.m. EST hearing on Thursday.

Building Contractor Fined $235,500 for Fall, Scaffold Hazards

OSHA's inspection found NER employees exposed to falls of up to 17 feet due to a lack of fall protection while power washing the side of a building and while dismantling scaffolding.

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