Regulatory & Standards


OSHA Assistant Secretary Dr. David Michaels

Plenty of Substance in OSHA's Web Chat

Look for a final rule revising the Hazard Communication standard in August 2011 and addition of an MSDs column to the 300 log in 2012, agency officials said.

MSHA Proposes Revisions to Underground Coal Mine Examination Requirements

MSHA recently announced a proposal to revise its requirements for pre-shift, supplemental, on-shift, and weekly examinations. The proposed rule on "Examinations of Work Areas in Underground Coal Mines for Violations of Mandatory Health or Safety Standards" would require mine operators to take responsibility for conducting complete workplace examinations; correcting violations; and reviewing with mine examiners on a quarterly basis all citations and orders issued in areas where pre-shift, supplemental, on-shift, and weekly examinations are required.

FAA Fines American Eagle Airlines $330,000 for Broken Seats, Armrests

FAA alleges American Eagle mechanics failed to note broken passenger seats and armrests on two aircraft during a Dec. 18, 2008, inspection and did not follow the approved maintenance manual instructions during those inspections.

Eighty Years in Safety

As the editor of Occupational Health & Safety for 15+ years, about 19 percent of its existence, I believe it is more useful and relevant than ever.

Noise Control: How to Plan for OSHA's New Interpretation

Designing to achieve the desired reduction in noise without excessive capital cost and negative operational impact is often a delicate balance.

Fall Protection for Wood Pole Climbing

With the right equipment and a combination of three basic methods, it's a cinch.

More than 80 percent of combustible dust incidents are fires, most of which cause minor property damage.

Better Identification of Fire Hazards Needed

Stakeholders seeking control measures to minimize the probability and severity of combustible dust incidents should work more closely with the fire service.

Solis Announces New Appointments, Leadership for 2011 ERISA Advisory Council

Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis recently announced the appointments of five new members to the 2011 Advisory Council on Employee Welfare and Pension Benefit Plans--known as the ERISA Advisory Council. She also announced the appointment of the incoming chair and vice chair of the council.



OSHA Renews Alliance with Steel Erectors Association, Iron Workers Union

OHSA recently announced a renewed alliance with the Steel Erectors Association of Metropolitan Philadelphia and Vicinity Inc. and the Iron Workers Local Union No. 401. OSHA and its alliance partners will continue to promote workplace safety and health, and provide guidance and training resources for steel erection workers.

OSHA Appoints New Head of Construction Directorate

Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health David Michaels, Ph.D., MPH, has appointed Jim Maddux as the new director of the agency's Directorate of Construction, effective Monday, Dec. 20, 2010.

Court Grants MSHA Injunctive Relief against Maine Quarry

The Mine Safety and Health Administration announced recently that it successfully obtained a court order that imposes a number of requirements on Sullivan Granite Co. LLC, which operates Brown's Meadow Quarry in Franklin, Maine.

An image of a patient being tranferred to a trauma center.

Study Questions Two-Hour Trauma Transport Law in Illinois

Illinois law states that when hospitals need to transfer trauma patients to centers with higher levels of trauma care, such transfers should be made within two hours. A new study, published in the December issue of the Archives of Surgery, concludes that the two-hour mandate isn't cost-efficient because it does not lead to better patient outcomes.

Laboratory technician

Public Now Has Access to Chemical Health and Safety Studies

The database will grow as more companies submit information electronically and as older documents are scanned into the system.

The law was enacted in response to increasing misuse of prescription drugs in the United States, particularly among teenagers.

DEA Sets Meeting on Surrendered Drug Procedures

The Jan. 19-20 public meeting at the Mayflower Renaissance Washington, DC Hotel will help the agency write the regulations implementing the Secure and Responsible Drug Disposal Act of 2010.

New Group Formed to Support Electric Vehicle Industry

The Electrical Vehicle Supply Equipment/Systems Section is only the second section formed by the National Electrical Manufacturers Association in the past decade.

The rescinded compliance directive allows employers engaged in any of four types of construction activities to use alternative procedures rather than conventional fall protection without having to show the convention protection was infeasible at that particular site.

OSHA Replaces Residential Construction Fall Protection Directive

Recommended by the Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and Health, the National Association of Home Builders, and the Occupational Safety and Health State Plan Association, this change took effect immediately. Its enforcement effective date is June 16, 2011.

Will Investors Pay Attention to Mine Safety Reports?

The Securities and Exchange Commission is deciding how much operators of coal mines and other types of mines must disclose when they report health and safety violations and mining-related fatalities.

UL Unveils Environmental Product Declaration Program

UL Environment Inc. will be launching an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) Program in January 2011 to provide a comprehensive, globally recognized, and scientifically robust mechanism to consistently evaluate environmental claims on products.

ASHRAE Green Building Standard Adopted by US Army

ASHRAE announced that its leaders recently met with U.S. Army officials about a new sustainable design and development policy that incorporates requirements of the standard.

CMV Hand-Held Phone Ban Proposed by FMCSA

The agency chose not to prohibit use of hands-free phones by commercial drivers in interstate commerce but asked for comments on whether it should take that step.

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