Labor

Washington — More than two dozen Democratic lawmakers once again are trying to pass the Protecting America’s Workers Act – legislation that has been introduced many times in both houses of Congress over the past 15 years.

Washington — The Chemical Safety Board must release details about chemical emissions resulting from industrial incidents and produce a reporting regulation within 12 months, a federal judge in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia ruled Feb. 4.

Dallas — Navy researcher Kurt Yankaskas is the recipient of the 2019 NIOSH Safe-in-Sound Excellence in Hearing Loss Prevention Award, presented Feb. 9 at the National Hearing Conservation Association’s annual conference.

Oakbrook Terrace, IL — Citing the prevalence of patient assaults on health care staff, accreditation organization The Joint Commission has issued a “Quick Safety” advisory aimed at limiting conditions that may spark aggression and violence in health care settings.

Annapolis, MD — Maryland Del. Cheryl D. Glenn (D-Baltimore) has reintroduced legislation that would require contractors seeking to work on certain state projects to submit safety plans and would direct the state to ensure the plans are being followed.

Washington — Department of Labor Inspector General Scott Dahl states that his office is “currently reviewing the integrity of the rulemaking process” at OSHA and DOL in a Jan. 25 written response to five lawmakers.

Salem, OR — Oregon OSHA is inviting all employers in the state to take part in its 16th annual “Safety Break for Oregon” to help raise awareness and promote “the value of keeping people safe and healthy” on the job.

Portland, OR — Older workers feel more stress than their younger colleagues when employers don’t provide the support and resources necessary for employees to do their jobs well, results of a recent study from Portland State University suggest.

Hartford, CT — Two-thirds of employers in the United States are or will be affected by the opioid epidemic, according to the results of a recent survey.

Washington — NIOSH has released an updated version of its free Sound Level Meter app, designed to measure noise exposure in the workplace.