News

Washington — The Federal Railroad Administration has issued a final rule revising the agency’s regulation on highway rail-grade crossing action plans to require 40 states and the District of Columbia to develop and implement – and update, if applicable – FRA-approved action plans.

Washington — A total of 5,333 workers died as a result of on-the-job injuries in 2019 – a 1.6% increase from 2018 and the highest number of fatalities since 5,657 were recorded in 2007, according to Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries data released Dec. 16 by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Washington — The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement and the Department of Energy have established a five-year grant opportunity of up to $40 million for the operation and maintenance of a revamped independent research institute focused on fostering the safety of offshore energy operations, the agencies announced Nov. 23.

Washington — OSHA has updated its Site-Specific Targeting Program, the agency announced Dec. 16. OSHA’s primary targeting program for non-construction establishments with 20 or more employees, the SST Program directs agency enforcement resources to those with the highest rates of injuries and illnesses.

New York — More than half of dentists have experienced verbal aggression from patients within the past year, and more than 1 out of 5 have been the victim of physical aggression, results of a recent survey show.

Columbus, OH — Almost 2 out of 5 people in the United States say they’ll likely attend a holiday gathering of 10 or more people from outside their household despite the COVID-19 pandemic, and a third of those hosting events say they won’t ask guests to wear masks, results of a recent Ohio State University survey show.

Washington — The two-year charter for NIOSH’s Mine Safety and Health Research Advisory Committee has been renewed through Nov. 30, 2022, according to a notice published in the Dec. 11 Federal Register.

Itasca, IL — The National Safety Council is calling on employers to support the adoption and rollout of COVID-19 vaccines in response to the Food and Drug Administration’s recent approval of the first such vaccine for emergency use.

Washington — To help keep safe the workers who play a role in getting “gifts from the warehouse to your home” for the holidays, OSHA has published a series for seasonal workplace safety tips and a video – including COVID-19-related guidance.

Washington — The Environmental Protection Agency has issued a final rule that revises the pesticide application exclusion zone requirement in the agency’s standard on agricultural worker protection.