News

Washington — OSHA has no target date for issuing an emergency temporary standard related to COVID-19, Labor Secretary Marty Walsh testified during an April 28 hearing convened by the House Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Subcommittee.

Washington — Approximately 18,000 miles of decommissioned oil and gas pipelines in the Gulf of Mexico pose safety and environmental risks, according to a new report from the Government Accountability Office.

Chicago — Physicians contracted by mine operators to review chest X-rays of coal miners who file “totally debilitating disease” workers’ compensation claims with the Department of Labor’s Federal Black Lung Program may have a bias strongly related to financial conflict of interest, researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago suggest.

Lansing, MI — In response to a recent surge of COVID-19 cases in the state, Michigan OSHA has extended until Oct. 14 its temporary emergency rules intended to clarify employer requirements for protecting workers from exposure.

Washington — The rate of pedestrian deaths jumped more than 20% in the first half of 2020 as speeding, distracted driving and impaired driving increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a recently released report from the Governors Highway Safety Association.

Washington — OSHA on April 26 submitted for review to the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs a draft of an emergency temporary standard related to COVID-19 – one of the final steps before the ETS can be published in the Federal Register.

Atlanta — Prompted by available data and studies that show the risk of contracting COVID-19 via contact with surfaces is low, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is relaxing its exposure-prevention guidance on cleaning and disinfecting.

Washington — OSHA is requiring the recording of adverse reactions to COVID-19 vaccines only when vaccination is required by the employer, the agency says in an addition to its series of frequently asked questions on protecting workers from exposure to the coronavirus.

Santa Cruz, CA — Quality sleep is proving elusive for more than 9 out of 10 U.S. adults, results of a recent survey show.

Bologna, Italy — International scientific academy Collegium Ramazzini is calling on the International Labor Organization to designate occupational health and safety a Fundamental Right at Work.