Business & Industry

Washington – The Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission intends to reduce the average length of time it takes to resolve cases as part of its new five-year strategic plan.

Washington – OSHA has announced it will issue a proposed rule to revise the agency’s standards on occupational exposure to crystalline silica.

Washington – The number of fatal workplace injuries decreased in 2012 from the previous year, according to a preliminary report released Aug. 22 by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Washington – Workers’ compensation costs have increased for the first time in half a decade, indicating a recovering economy, according to a National Academy of Social Insurance report released Aug. 20.

Washington – OSHA recently released its annual Federal Annual Monitoring and Evaluation reports on State Plan states and territories.

Arlington – The Mine Safety and Health Administration on Aug. 14 issued a new online tool to help mine operators track their record of correcting violations.

Sacramento, CA – California’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health has proposed a new standard on safe patient handling for part of the health care industry.

Arlington, VA – Employers in the mining industry that follow OSHA’s newly revised Hazard Communication Standard will be in compliance with the Mine Safety and Health Administration’s hazcom standard, MSHA clarified in an Aug. 13 policy letter.

London – Walking or cycling to work may help protect against diabetes and being overweight, according to a study from Imperial College London and University College London.

Washington – The Chemical Safety Board has not met its objective to complete “timely, high quality” investigations, concludes a new report from the Environmental Protection Agency Office of Inspector General.