Labor

Washington – The National Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety and Health is scheduled to receive updates from both OSHA and NIOSH at its next meeting, set for Dec. 10 in Washington.

Quincy, MA – More than 65,000 firefighters were injured in the line of duty in 2013, according to a report from the National Fire Protection Association.

Washington – The Chemical Safety Board has launched an investigation after four workers were killed by a chemical leak Nov. 15 at a DuPont plant in Texas.

Charleston, WV – Former Massey Energy Co. CEO Donald Blankenship conspired against and lied to federal officials about safety at the Upper Big Branch mine – site of an April 2010 methane explosion that killed 29 workers – to make more money, according to a federal indictment announced Nov. 15.

Washington – California should strengthen its process safety management regulations for refineries, the Chemical Safety Board stated in a final report on a fire at a Chevron refinery in 2012.

Boston – Voters in Massachusetts have approved a measure that will provide paid sick leave for many more workers in the state.

Arlington, VA – The Mine Safety and Health Administration has scheduled informal public hearings on its proposal to revise procedures for assessing civil penalties.

Washington – To help protect health care workers and other first responders against Ebola virus exposure, the InterAgency Board for Equipment Standardization and Interoperability has released a new set of recommendations for using personal protective equipment.

Toulouse, France – Performing shift work for many years can result in diminished brain power, and a worker would need at least five years to recover, concludes a study from the University of Toulouse.

Arlington, VA – Eight miners were killed on the job from July 1 to Sept. 30, bringing the total number of fatalities in 2014 to 30, the Mine Safety and Health Administration announced Oct. 28.