Labor

Arlington, VA – The overall permissible level of respirable dust in coal mines has been lowered to 1.5 milligrams per cubic meter of air from 2.0 as part of the third – and final – phase of the Mine Safety and Health Administration’s rule on limiting miner exposure to coal mine dust.

Washington – In an effort to encourage the development of technology to combat work-related hearing loss, OSHA, NIOSH, and the Mine Safety and Health Administration have partnered on a new competition.

Washington – Ambush killings of law enforcement officers have increased more than 366 percent this year compared with the same time period one year ago, according to a report from the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund.

Washington – The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement has issued a safety alert in response to two offshore incidents involving the use of a hydraulic pulling unit, or hydraulic casing jack.

Washington – A single policy on the use of chain saws and crosscut saws on National Forest Service lands has replaced nine regional policies and certification requirements, the U.S. Forest Service recently announced.

Sacramento – California’s Department of Industrial Relations, together with the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services and the California Environmental Protection Agency, on July 14 published regulatory amendments intended to bolster safety for the state’s refinery workers and communities.

Washington – NIOSH has created a mobile app to accompany its Pocket Guide on Chemical Hazards.

Boston – A recent survey of U.S. workers shows 16 percent believe their job is having a negative impact on their health – with stress topping the list.

Arlington, VA – Virtually all respirable coal dust samples collected earlier this year complied with Mine Safety and Health Administration coal mine dust standards, the agency announced July 18.