Regulatory & Standards


Hometown Buffet Agrees to Settle Sexual Harassment Suit

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) recently announced a class litigation settlement against Hometown Buffet, Inc., on behalf of teens and Latinas who were subjected to a sexually hostile workplace, including verbal and physical abuse, in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.

EPA Seeks Comments on its Reevaluation of Perchlorate

Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa P. Jackson announced that the agency is taking an important step to ensure children's health is taken into account when evaluating the chemical perchlorate.

OSHA Petroleum Refinery Emphasis Program Nets $240,750 in Proposed Penalties

OSHA has cited Sinclair Tulsa Refining Co. with one alleged willful and one serious following an inspection at the company's crude oil refinery in Tulsa. Proposed penalties total $240,750. OSHA's Oklahoma City Area Office began its investigation Feb. 4 at the company's facility on 25th Street in Tulsa.

DOL Obtains Judgment against Former President of Chicago Investment Firm

The Department of Labor has obtained a consent judgment and order requiring the former president of Chicago-based AA Capital Partners Inc. to restore $50 million in losses to five Michigan pension funds as restitution for misuse of the plans' assets to benefit the investment firm and himself (Solis v. AA Capital Partners Inc., Civil Action No. 08-cv-2029).

Nearly $16,000 in Proposed Fines Following Worker Fatality

OSHA has cited Progressive Protein LLC of Omaha for alleged safety and health violations following a fatal accident.

OSHA Establishes 'Watch List' to Strengthen Outreach Training Program

Jordan Barab, acting assistant secretary of labor for OSHA, warned that with this heightened effort to address fraudulent activity by authorized trainers, those "who fail to provide appropriate safety training will pay a stiff price for their fraudulent behavior."

New Site Pinpoints Highway Work Zones in Illinois

And beginning Jan. 1, 2010, law enforcement in the state will be able to conduct primary enforcement of a texting while driving ban, thanks to a new law.

OSHA Cites Branco Enterprises for Potential Trenching Hazards

OSHA has cited Branco Enterprises Inc. with an alleged willful and nine serious violations of federal health and safety regulations following an inspection at the company's worksite in Fort Smith. Proposed penalties total $102,600.



OSHA Investigation Uncovers Numerous Safety, Health Hazards

OSHA has cited Amer Industrial Technologies Inc. for alleged safety and health violations, proposing $63,750 in penalties.

This CSB investigative photo shows the aftermath of the 2005 BP explosion, which killed 15 people

Steelworkers, API Part Ways on Refinery Fatigue Standard

The union and the oil and gas industry's trade association issued press releases Aug. 4 accusing each other of undermining their work on a national standard requested by the U.S. Chemical Safety Board after the BP refinery explosion in Texas City in 2005.

Trucking Group Supports Distracted Driving Summit

DOT Secretary Ray LaHood said Tuesday he will "announce a list of concrete steps we will take to make drivers think twice about taking their eyes off the road for any reason" after next month's summit in Washington, D.C.

the Seafood HACCP Alliance will help stakeholders understand emerging concerns for imported products and new regulatory guidance, FDA says

FDA Set to Continue Support of Seafood HACCP Alliance

Managed by the University of Florida, the alliance is known worldwide for approving training courses, trainers, and certifications for seafood safety programs.

South Africa's Labour Department Targets Steel, Farming

Employers who received non-compliance notices a few weeks ago will be revisited by inspectors Aug. 11-12, the department said.

FAA Requires Ice Protection Changes for Transport Aircraft

The agency's review of aircraft in-flight icing safety began after two crashes in the Midwest in 1994 and 1997 that killed 68 and 29 people, respectively.

workers are shown on an active oil rig

Drilling Fluids' Health Risks Explained

A new online guide from the International Association of Oil & Gas Producers' Health Committee can help to limit workers' exposures to the fluids, which can produce a variety of health effects, including contact dermatitis.

Is Your Team Protected?

Hazmat teams at fire departments, industrial companies, and military units have enough to worry about in hazardous situations without having to be concerned about whether their hazmat suits fully protect them. In an effort to help hazmat professionals ensure their teams are fully protected, below are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about chemical protective suit standards.

Kansas Construction Firm Fined $13,300 Following Fatality

OSHA has cited Diamond Sawing and Coring LLC of Summerfield, Kan., for alleged violations of the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Act.

OSHA Inspection Program Targets Air Traffic Control Towers

Investigators will inspect randomly selected towers to determine whether FAA is meeting the requirements of the agency's alternate standard for egress and fire safety.

American Pain Society Urges FDA to Modify Restricted Distribution Program

In a letter to the Food and Drug Administration, the American Pain Society (APS) petitioned the agency, on behalf of the terminally ill and their families, to modify a restricted distribution program for the newly approved pain medication Onsolis, a short-acting product that delivers fentanyl through the mouth's mucous membranes.

This Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics photo shows a chemical protective garment from its ONESuit line.

How ISO 16602 Can Assist the Safety Professional

Although only introduced in 2007, ISO 16602 is already recognized and accepted internationally. It is clear that ISO 16602 will become the common global language for expressing CPC performance.

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