News

Washington — The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit on June 11 rejected an AFL-CIO lawsuit calling on the Department of Labor and OSHA to issue an emergency temporary standard on infectious diseases amid the evolving COVID-19 pandemic.

Oakland, CA — Employers are responsible for protecting workers from heat illness, the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health – also known as Cal/OSHA – reiterates in a recent reminder.

Washington — To help protect retail pharmacy workers from exposure to COVID-19, OSHA has issued a safety alert.

Washington — Citing risks presented by the evolving COVID-19 pandemic, the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission has extended until July 10 a suspension of all in-person hearings, settlement judge conferences and mediations.

Tumwater, WA — New guidance from the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries is intended to help employers select the proper masks or facial coverings for workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Washington — The National Transportation Safety Board is calling for changes to shipping requirements for certain types of lithium-ion batteries, after an agency investigation into a shipment of batteries that ignited while being transported via a delivery truck in Canada.

Silver Spring, MD — Pausing on an image of workers installing a septic tank liner, OSHA Directorate of Construction Director Scott Ketcham told attendees of a May 28 webinar they were looking at “a tragedy in the making.”

Washington — In response to reported shortages of filtering facepiece respirators and declining availability of fit testing, the Environmental Protection Agency has issued temporary guidance intended to help protect workers who handle agricultural pesticides against exposure to COVID-19.

Washington — Bipartisan legislation recently introduced in the Senate would require the Mine Safety and Health Administration to issue within seven days of enactment an emergency temporary standard to help protect mine workers from exposure to COVID-19, followed by the issuance of a final rule.

Itasca, IL — The National Safety Council has issued a policy position statement calling on OSHA to immediately exercise its authority and issue an emergency temporary standard to protect workers as organizations reopen amid the COVID-19 pandemic.