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Minneapolis — A coalition consisting of the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, three local affiliate unions and watchdog group Public Citizen is suing the U.S. Department of Agriculture over a controversial final rule that removes maximum line speeds in pork-processing plants and transfers certain inspection responsibilities to plant workers.

Washington — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is warning of “an emerging public health threat” after researchers identified an increase in cases of silicosis – an incurable lung disease – among workers who handle engineered stone used to make household countertops.

Washington — OSHA will not eliminate all the ancillary provisions in its beryllium standards for shipyards and construction, but will propose other changes in the future, according to a final rule published in the Sept. 30 Federal Register.

Washington — Eugene Scalia is the new secretary of labor, after the Senate confirmed him Sept. 26 in a 53-44 vote.

Washington — OSHA has issued a final rule that adds two fit testing protocols to the agency’s respiratory protection standard (1910.134).

Washington — The Chemical Safety Board has reversed course and will again include in its investigative reports the names of workers killed, as long as no immediate family member objects, the agency announced Sept. 17 during a public meeting.

Washington — Eugene Scalia’s nomination for secretary of labor advanced on a party-line vote Sept. 24 in the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.

Washington — The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has extended by 14 days the comment period for a proposed rule the agency claims would add flexibility to hours-of-service regulations for commercial truck drivers, according to a notice published in the Sept. 19 Federal Register.

Small businesses typically don’t have the same resources to devote to safety as larger organizations. That doesn’t mean a safety program is out of reach.

Washington — A controversial U.S. Department of Agriculture final rule unveiled Sept. 17 removes maximum line speeds in pork-processing plants and transfers certain inspection responsibilities to plant workers.