S+H Staff

Springfield, IL — Legislation that would direct the Illinois Department of Labor to establish – by Jan. 1 – standards intended to protect workers from excessive heat and cold is advancing in the state House.

Washington — Because of the variety of different respiratory hazards health care workers are exposed to on the job, knowing the difference between types of respiratory protection is key.

Frankfort, KY — Kentucky legislators have responded quickly to Gov. Andy Beshear’s (D) veto of a bill that would have limited enforcement of any new or existing state workplace safety and health regulations that are more stringent than federal OSHA standards.

Washington — Stating that “extensive research has confirmed no direct link between processing speeds and workplace injuries” at pork- and poultry-processing plants, the U.S. Department of Agriculture says it will “formalize” faster line speeds initially allowed at certain facilities as part of a trial period.

Frankfort, KY — Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D) has vetoed a bill that would have limited enforcement of any new or existing state workplace safety and health regulations that are more stringent than federal OSHA standards.

Arlington, VA — The Mine Safety and Health Administration has scheduled several meetings to “provide information and answer questions” ahead of the fast-approaching compliance date for its final rule on miner exposure to respirable crystalline silica.

Fewer pedestrians were killed during the first half of last year compared with the first six months of 2023, yet the total is still well above that from a decade earlier, the Governors Highway Safety Association says.

Bootle, England — Responding to an uptick of incidents involving attendant ships colliding with offshore oil and gas and renewable energy structures, Great Britain’s Health and Safety Executive has issued a safety advisory.

Washington — The Environmental Protection Agency has extended to April 2 the deadline to comment on a draft scope document for the agency’s risk evaluation of vinyl chloride, a known human carcinogen.

Augusta, ME — A bill recently introduced in the Maine Legislature would amend state law to allow employees younger than 16 to work expanded hours throughout the year.