Regulatory & Standards


DOT Releases New Safety Guidelines for Transmission Pipelines

The guidelines, developed by the Pipelines and Informed Planning Alliance (PIPA), mark the first time a set of recommendations for development near existing transmission pipelines has been issued.

Texas Masonry Firm Fined for Fall Protection, Repeat Hazards

OSHA began its inspection on Oct. 21 at the company's facility, which found employees working at an elevation of approximately 14 feet without wearing fall protection.

MSHA Increases Focus on Exposure Monitoring at Metal, Nonmetal Mines

"We want to ensure that miners are protected from overexposure to harmful contaminants and mine operators have required safety and health programs in place to meet that objective," said Joseph A. Main, assistant secretary of labor for mine safety and health.

Saying fewer workers will be affected than some opponents may realize, NHCA noted the noise control requirement is triggered only when workers have eight-hour average exposures over 90 dBA.

NHCA Defends OSHA's Noise Exposure Change

The new enforcement policy is not yet in effect, but some groups are attacking it as an expensive, unnecessary change. The National Hearing Conservation Association supports it, however.

British Telecom Fined $465,000 for Fatal Fall

The company was prosecuted after an employee suffered fatal head injuries in October 2006 when he fell from a wooden ladder.

Cameraman's Death at Racecourse Results in Fines for Production Studio

OSHA has proposed $91,000 in fines against the company for one alleged willful, two alleged serious, and one other-than-serious violation.

NACOSH to Hear I2P2 Update in January

Although whatever window OSHA has to enact an injury and illness prevention programs requirement may well be closing, the Jan. 19-20 meeting in Washington, D.C., will include a discussion by OSHA and NIOSH staffs.

Solis Appoints Five New NACOSH Members

Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis recently announced appointment of five new members to the National Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety and Health. The new appointees will serve two-year terms and are leaders in the fields of medicine, academia and safety program development.



Lord Young on Oct. 15 recommended changing when lost-time injury cases must be reported.

30 Percent Fewer Cases Expected from UK Reporting Change

Savings of $8.6 million would result from one of the most important recommendations in the government's recent report to reduce the regulatory burden on employers.

Explosion at Mass. Maintenance Facility Leads to $44,000 Penalty

An employee was performing welding on a pontoon boat when the hot work ignited vapors from within the boat's interior. OSHA found that the boat had not been adequately ventilated to ensure the escape of flammable gasses before welding.

AIHA Releases New, Revised ANSI/AIHA Standards

The American Industrial Hygiene Association, in collaboration with American National Standards Institute, has released two new fundamental consensus standards which promote conformity among assessment systems. As an ANSI member and accredited standards developer, AIHA serves as the secretariat for three ANSI committees that develop occupational safety and health related standards.

DOL Obtains Default Judgment against California Garment Manufacturer

A U.S. district court judge has ruled in favor of the Department of Labor in a case against a Westminster, Calif., garment manufacturer and its owner, awarding a total of $887,554 to current and former workers (Case No. 2:10:-CV-02805 AHM (PJW)). Judge A. Howard Matz approved the department's request for a default judgment against Laundry Room Clothing Inc., owner Milton Kaneda and principal Sharon Kaneda after they failed to pay $380,824 in unpaid minimum wage and overtime compensation due to 115 low-wage workers.

Using safeguarding equipment, such as light curtains, safety relays, and cable pull switches, helps to reduce risk to employees.

Improving Your Machine Safety Program

Shift the focus from avoiding negative outcomes to achieving positive results.

The centerpiece of CSA is the Safety Measurement System (SMS), which will analyze all safety-based violations from inspections and crash data to determine a commercial motor carrier’s on-road performance.

FMCSA Launches CSA 2010 for Commercial Trucks, Buses

The centerpiece of CSA is the Safety Measurement System (SMS), which will analyze all safety-based violations from inspections and crash data to determine a commercial motor carrier’s on-road performance.

JetBlue Fined for Violating Disability, Code-Share Disclosure Rules

Following a visit to JetBlue’s headquarters in March, DOT reviewed complaints about the treatment of passengers with disabilities filed with the carrier and with DOT. The complaints revealed a number of violations of the requirement to provide enplaning and deplaning assistance.

OSHA Soaks Texas Launderer in Fines for Fall Hazards

OSHA began its inspection June 10 at the company's worksite and found employees operating a forklift without wearing a seat belt, as well as wet floors in passageways, aisles, and laundry work areas.

Comment Period Under Way for Australia's Model Regs

The deadline to comment on the 582-page document is April 4, 2011, and government safety agencies are urging employers and workers to participate as Australia moves toward harmonized regulations.

New Standard Released for Testing Hard Surface Flooring

The National Floor Safety Institute announced the publication of ANSI/NFSI B101.1. For the first time, property owners can be held accountable for the slip resistance of their floors, said NFSI founder Russ Kendzior.

Three Mass. Contractors Cited $154,700 for Cave-In Hazards

"The size of these proposed fines reflects the gravity of these hazards and the fact that two of the employers knew cave-in protection and a ladder were required, yet refused to provide these vital safeguards," said Rosemarie Ohar, OSHA's New Hampshire area director.

On hand for the discussions were (from left to right): Brian Galonek, Beth Russert, Kevin Cronin, Heidi Chatfield, Greg Canose, Michelle M. Smith, and George Delta.

Incentive Legislation Campaign Promotes Tax Changes to Reduce Health Costs

Incentive Federation Executive Director George Delta explained that upcoming tax reform and health care issues on the horizon for the 112th Congress that begins in January could provide a workable venue to promote the use of incentives as a means to reduce health care costs.

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