News

Washington – Beginning May 21, interstate truck and bus drivers must use only government-approved medical examiners to certify that they meet the physical fitness requirements for operating commercial vehicles.

Washington – The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has released regulatory guidance for roadside inspectors on what information must be displayed on electronic logging devices that currently meet FMCSA regulations for tracking drivers’ hours-of-service compliance.

New York – Many children working on U.S. tobacco farms have inadequate protective gear and suffer from symptoms associated with acute nicotine poisoning, according to a report released May 14 by Human Rights Watch.

Washington – Applications are being accepted for OSHA’s Susan Harwood Training Grant Program.

Crooklands, England – In acknowledgment of the growing demand for second-hand mobile elevating work platforms and the retention of aging equipment in rental fleets, the International Powered Access Federation has released new technical guidance on inspections of access platforms to help keep the equipment safe beyond the manufacturer’s design life.

Washington – The Environmental Protection Agency has extended to Aug. 18 the comment period for revisions to a proposed rule aimed at protecting farmworkers from pesticide exposure.

Washington – The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration must make improvements to its oversight of state pipeline safety programs, concludes an audit released May 7 by the Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General.

Boston – Workers who are exposed to paint, glue or degreaser fumes may experience cognitive issues such as memory loss during retirement, according to a recent study from the Harvard Center for Population and Development Studies.

Washington – Electronic logging devices used to track truck drivers’ compliance with federal hours-of-service regulations help prevent HOS violations and crashes, according to a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration-sponsored report issued in April.

Phoenix – OSHA’s threat to take away Arizona’s oversight of construction safety – prompted by alleged inadequacies in the state’s fall protection standard – is unnecessary in light of recently passed legislation, an attorney representing the state said in a May 1 letter to the federal agency.