The proposal would eliminate the potential POV procedure, which involves written notification that a potential POV exists at a particular mining operation. No longer would mine operators receive advanced warning.
Available remotely via Live Meeting, the March 29 event will focus on PPE for health care, mining, agriculture, and public safety. Workshops will follow on March 30.
"OSHA will not allow companies to endanger the safety and health of its workers as a means to reduce business expenses," said Clyde Payne, OSHA's area director in Jackson, Miss.
The recipients were honored by the Brick Industry Association for comprehensive safety programs, energy conservation, and building a plant to LEED Gold standards.
This voluntary standard is the first national standard for PPE to be used by fire, police, and paramedics, officials said.
"Overexposure to respirable crystalline silica can cause a disabling, nonreversible and sometimes fatal lung disease," said Paula Dixon-Roderick, director of OSHA's Marlton Area Office in New Jersey.
The agency is conducting a public review of the draft Current Intelligence Bulletin, titled Derivation of Immediately Dangerous to Life and Health (IDLH) Values.
Both companies released fourth-quarter 2010 results Tuesday and raised their 2011 earnings expectations, saying sales increased across their business segments last year.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission and the United States Fire Administration are urging consumers to play it safe as winter weather blankets the United States. According to USFA, home fires spike in winter months. Cooking and home heating are the leading causes of residential building fires during the winter. The risk of fires also increases with the use of supplemental heating, such as space heaters. CPSC estimates that home heating was associated with an average of 33,300 fires and 180 fire deaths per year from 2005 to 2007.
OSHA's inspection found a variety of emergency response, respirator, electrical, and chemical hazards.
"This company was well aware of what it needed to do to protect its workers from a well-known hazard but failed to provide that protection," said Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA Dr. David Michaels.
Seven people, some of whom are local, are scheduled to testify about the recommendations to the board during its meeting in Institute, W.Va., where the 2008 explosion occurred.
The company was issued two willful citations with $42,000 in fines and seven serious citations with $10,500 in fines.
Of the 71 mining fatalities reported, 23 of those victims were killed in surface mining accidents, while 48 miners died in underground mining accidents, 29 of whom were killed in the explosion at the Upper Big Branch mine in April.
May 2 is the new deadline, which gives stakeholders two additional months to submit comments.
Several organizations are working with TRANSCAER, the voluntary national program helping responders and communities prepare for hazmat transportation incidents, as it begins a yearlong training effort in Stockton, Calif.
Bidding to help more than 9,600 sand, gravel, and crushed stone mines in the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands, “Safety Pro in a Box” includes modules on various hazards.
OSHA's investigation found that two employees working on the ammonia system narrowly escaped serious injury when an uncontrolled release occurred during maintenance operations.
Avalung backpacks sold in specialty outdoor and ski shops in 2010 may be defective and should be returned for inspection and possible replacement, according to manufacturer Black Diamond Equipment, Ltd.
Larger, color warnings, easier-to-understand information about toxics in the smoke, and a phone number and URL to reach smoking cessation services will be included.