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Combustible dust, diacetyl and – more recently – gas blows all are recognized industry hazards, yet federal OSHA does not have standards regulating them. However, the agency does have a way to protect workers from unregulated hazards, and employers could be seeing it more often: the General Duty Clause.

The next action for OSHA’s hazard communication standard will be a final rule, projected to be released in August. What exactly will happen on this date?

Tables from BLS data

OSHA has been called several things – “safety cop,” “partner,” “standard setter” and probably a few other names not fit for print. But a very interesting way to think about OSHA and its standards is as agency administrator David Michaels put it the other day.

Bismarck, ND – Drivers caught texting while driving in North Dakota will face a $100 fine when a new law goes into effect on Aug. 1.

Elk Grove Village, IL – Traveling frequently for work may put you at increased risk for health ailments, including obesity and high blood pressure, indicates a study released April 22 by the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.

Washington – Department of Labor and industry representatives have hosted three meetings in recent weeks to discuss OSHA’s proposed rule on crystalline silica, according to newly released data from the Office of Management and Budget.

Washington – Citing the 40th anniversary of the Occupational Safety and Health Act and the 100th anniversary of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire, the AFL-CIO called for stronger safety protections and higher OSHA penalties in its annual “Death on the Job” report.

The National Safety Council recently approved a new position-policy statement in support of OSHA’s Voluntary Protection Programs and continued adequate funding for the program by the government.

Washington – OSHA in April published letters of interpretation for the first time this year. The last standard interpretations were dated in October 2010.