Labor

Columbus, OH — Legislation that would prohibit Ohio nurses from working mandatory overtime was approved by the state House on June 7.

Washington — A “fundamental shift” is needed in the mining industry’s approach to coal dust exposure to help mitigate a surge in black lung disease among underground coal miners, according a new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.

Toronto — Women who work 45 or more hours a week may have an increased risk of diabetes, according to a recent study from the Institute for Work and Health and the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences.

Ann Arbor, MI — Health care workers may be contaminating themselves and their work environments by neglecting to use personal protective equipment and follow preventive protocol, according to a study from researchers at the University of Michigan and the University of Utah.

Washington — A leading House Democrat has sent a letter to Secretary of Labor R. Alexander Acosta regarding OSHA’s reported decline in enforcement activities and its current inspector staffing level, among other subjects.

Washington — The Environmental Protection Agency is seeking comment on problem formulation documents for the first 10 chemicals slated for evaluation for potential health and environmental risks under the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act, as well as a systematic review approach document and a proposed significant new use rule for asbestos.

Washington — Most states have expanded their whistleblower protection laws over the past 12 years, including 10 states that have done so in their most recent legislative sessions, according to an analysis by watchdog group Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility.

Philadelphia — Breaking for lunch can do wonders for worker morale and productivity, a recent survey conducted by professional hygiene product manufacturer and service provider Tork has found.

Washington — A slight increase to OSHA’s budget and the continuation of the Susan Harwood Training Grant Program are proposed in a Senate appropriations bill for fiscal year 2019, while a report on the bill calls for the agency to resume “timely and public” reporting of worker fatalities on the OSHA website.

Washington — OSHA’s “clarifying amendments” to its beryllium standard for general industry will go into effect July 6, the agency has announced.