Labor

Washington – OSHA on Jan. 15 launched a web resource to help prevent injuries among hospital workers.

Washington – OSHA’s current rule on silica is based on obsolete analytical data, and exposure at the current permissible exposure limit results in “significant risks of death” from cancer and other diseases, the agency said during a Jan. 14 webchat that discussed proposed updates to the rule.

Washington – OSHA’s budget for the current fiscal year could be $552.3 million, according to an appropriations agreement between the Republican-controlled House and Democrat-controlled Senate.

Richmond, CA – Rep. George Miller (D-CA), longtime worker advocate in the Democratic Party, on Jan. 13 announced he will not be seeking re-election this fall.

Washington – Stakeholders at a Jan. 9 public meeting in Washington showed a sharp difference of opinion on proposed changes to OSHA’s Recordkeeping Standard.

Washington – OSHA has scheduled a webchat for Jan. 14 on the agency’s proposed rule on respirable silica.

Washington – Results of a NIOSH study of workers at a former IBM plant could not establish a definitive link between chemical exposures and cancer risk.

Washington – OSHA has extended to March 8 the comment period for its proposed rule on recordkeeping, the agency announced Jan. 6.

Arlington, VA – A total of 42 miners died on the job in 2013 – six more than in 2012, according to preliminary data from the Mine Safety and Health Administration.

Washington – Some approved self-contained breathing apparatus may not meet national standards for protecting users from chemical warfare agents, according to a Nov. 27 notice from NIOSH.