Labor

Washington — The House Education and Workforce Committee approved separate bills related to independent contractors and joint employers during a July 23 markup.

Washington — Indoor and outdoor workers exposed to excessive heat can find safety tips in a newly released OSHA video.

Washington — NIOSH has scheduled a series of free, confidential health screenings as it aims to identify cases of black lung disease in current and former miners.

Washington — The House Appropriations Committee has approved the Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, which includes more than $8 million in funding for the Chemical Safety Board.

Washington — Chemical facilities should establish safety management systems “even in the absence of regulatory requirements” and communicate lessons from past incidents to help keep workers safe, the Chemical Safety Board says.

Salem, OR — Health care workers in Oregon have new protections against on-the-job violence, under a law signed July 17 by Gov. Tina Kotek (D).

Washington — Inspections of various offshore facilities recently conducted by the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement identified a lack of proper documentation and tagging of temporarily out-of-service safety devices.

Washington — Bipartisan legislation recently reintroduced in both the House and Senate would require OSHA to develop a standard to protect workers from heat-related injuries and illnesses in indoor and outdoor settings.

Washington — Efforts to expand OSHA’s compliance assistance programs clashed with the Trump administration’s push to cut federal safety agency staffing, budgets and regulations during a July 16 House Workforce Protections Subcommittee hearing.

Washington — OSHA can provide penalty reductions to more employers, specifically smaller ones, under updated guidance that went into effect July 14.