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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.

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.

Oakland, CA — Data from OSHA’s Form 300A is not confidential – in part because employers already are required to share injury and illness information with current and former employees, who in turn are free to share it, a federal judge has ruled.

Tumwater, WA — Ethylene oxide should not be used to sterilize filtering facepiece respirators for reuse because “this extremely hazardous toxic chemical poses a severe risk to human health,” the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries warns in a new alert.

Washington — OSHA has denied an AFL-CIO petition that asks the agency to issue an emergency temporary standard on infectious diseases amid the evolving COVID-19 pandemic, claiming the labor federation “lacks compelling evidence.”

Washington — The Department of Labor Office of Inspector General is reviewing OSHA’s enforcement activities and guidance amid the COVID-19 pandemic, DOL Inspector General Scott Dahl indicated during a House Oversight and Reform Subcommittee virtual briefing June 1.

Washington — Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Bernie Sanders (I-VT) are among six legislators calling on the Department of Labor Office of Inspector General to investigate OSHA’s “handling of inspections and citations” during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as DOL’s decision not to issue an emergency temporary standard on infectious diseases.

Washington — An infectious diseases standard won’t be coming anytime soon, acting OSHA administrator Loren Sweatt indicated during a May 26 hearing convened by the House Workforce Protections Subcommittee, adding that “the regulatory agenda speaks for itself.”

Arc flash injuries can be catastrophic. Experts say they’re preventable.

Washington — OSHA has revised its enforcement policy for recordable cases of COVID-19, adding that it will increase workplace inspections.