Regulatory & Standards


Failing to develop procedures and provide training for locking out machine power sources to prevent unexpected startup brought a serious citation in the case.

Postal Service Hit with $558,000 Fine

OSHA announced Friday that the U.S. Postal Service received eight willful citations after inspectors found four untrained or unqualified workers performing tests on live electrical equipment.

The Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 2010 would require the enactment of a new safety standard on unintended acceleration.

Bill Would Require Unintended Acceleration Standard

To be debated in a May 6 hearing by the House Education Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection, the Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 2010 also would require all vehicles to have event data recorders that record crash data.

Pipeline Company Fined More Than $400,000 for Gasoline Spill

Pipeline owners and operators must ensure necessary steps are taken to minimize the potential of fuel spills,” said EPA Regional Administrator Al Armendariz.

Pipeline Accidents Now Reportable Online

DOT's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration published a notice yesterday alerting operators of pipelines that carry gas and hazardous liquids to use the new online system for reporting incidents.

DOJ, USDA Team for Workshops on Poultry, Dairy, Livestock Sectors

The sessions, which are free and open to the public, are designed to explore competition and regulatory issues in the agricultural industry.

Cal/OSHA shut down 16 work sites in 2009 for imminent heat hazards, and the agency issued nearly $2 million in fines and 1,158 citations for alleged violations of its Heat Illness Prevention Standard.

Heat Season Starts Now

Outdoor workers should be protected against excessive heat exposure, and particularly if they are wearing protective apparel.

Arc Flash and Molten Metal — the Hidden Hazard

Since the inception of the NFPA 70E 2000 Edition 10 years ago, there has been a major evolution in our understanding of the electric arc flash hazard.

Manufacturer Faces $106,800 Fine for Recurring Hazards

"One means of preventing hazards is for employers to establish an effective comprehensive workplace safety and health program that involves their employees in proactively evaluating, identifying, and eliminating hazards," said Robert Kulick, OSHA's regional administrator in New York.



FAA Proposes $348,000 Civil Penalty Against Chautauqua Airlines

“An air carrier’s maintenance program can’t function without a good system to determine compliance with airworthiness directives,” said FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt. “Problems with the AD system are inconsistent with an airline’s continued safe operation.”

Revised Accident Reporting Rule Now in Effect: MSHA

The agency decided submitted comments weren't "significant adverse comments" because the commenters had not understood what MSHA meant when it added "any other accident."

NYC Buildings Commission Robert LiMandri and department employees are helping construction employers and workers understand 25 new safety laws this week.

Seminars Highlight NYC's Construction Safety Week

The sixth annual event by New York City's Department of Buildings includes events in each of the five boroughs. Buildings Commissioner Robert LiMandri and others visited an 11-story building under construction in Brooklyn on Monday.

Dr. David Michaels, Ph.D., MPH, assistant secretary of Labor for occupational safety and health

OSH Act Must Be Modernized: Michaels

In Senate testimony today, OSHA's assistant secretary listed many updates that are needed to make his agency's inspectors an effective force for change. Does Congress have the will, or the daring, to reform the law?

MSHA Conducts Surprise Inspections at Three Massey-Owned Mines

"Each one of these inspections resulting from anonymous complaints reflects a serious disregard for the safety and health of the miners who work at these operations," said Joseph A. Main, assistant secretary of labor for mine safety and health. “What's especially troubling is that one of the complaints came in just days after the explosion at Upper Big Branch Mine."

OSHA gave an October 2010 date to complete analyzing comments submitted in 2008 about a proposed confined spaces rule for the construction industry.

Construction Confined Spaces Rule Still in Proposed Stage

The latest semiannual regulatory agenda does not advance the rulemaking except to give an October 2010 date to complete analyzing comments submitted in 2008. EPA's agenda says NPRMs will be issued in July 2011 to enhance pesticide protection for applicators and agricultural workers.

New Members, Chairman for NACOSH

Michael Silverstein, M.D., MPH, assistant director of Washington state's Division of Occupational Safety and Health, is the new chairman.

Work permit failures and a routine maintenance procedure gone awry caused the 1988 Piper Alpha disaster.

EU-OSHA Tackles Twitter and Unsafe Maintenance

You'll find it easy to find out about new regulations and workplace safety campaigns in Europe, including the safe maintenance campaign launching April 28.

CSB Outlines Study on Methyl Isocyanate

An additional study on inherently safer process technology may follow this one by the National Academy of Sciences specifically looking at how to reduce the risk of methyl isocyanate at the Bayer CropScience plant in Institute, W.Va.

Houston Contractor Settles Discrimination Case

EEOC Houston Regional Attorney Jim Sacher said, “Employees have an absolute right to be free from discriminatory harassment in the workplace. The EEOC will vigorously challenge violations of this statutory right.”

Firm Fined for Mismanagement of Industrial Trucks

The bulk of the proposed total penalty involves two repeat violations for failing to provide proper load backrest extensions and to take trucks with safety defects out of service, which together carry a potential fine of $50,000.

DOL Agency Chiefs to Host Web Chats Next Week

OSHA will conduct its chat concerning the agency's regulatory agenda Monday from 1 to 2 p.m. EDT. MSHA will host its Tuesday from 10 to 11 a.m. EDT.

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