Labor

Washington – The Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service failed to thoroughly evaluate pilot programs used as the basis for a proposed rule to increase line speeds in poultry-processing facilities, according to a new Government Accountability Office report.

Washington – OSHA is accepting nominations for membership with the Federal Advisory Council on Occupational Safety and Health, the agency announced Sept. 6.

South Bend, IN – A newly identified protein could lead to the development of drugs to help people better cope with rotational shift work and jet lag, a University of Notre Dame study suggests.

Washington – A chemical advisory issued Aug. 30 by OSHA; the Environmental Protection Agency; and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives offers steps fertilizer facilities and others can take to help reduce ammonium nitrate hazards.

Washington – As the Department of Agriculture continues to consider increasing line speeds at poultry-processing plants, a coalition of civil rights groups has petitioned USDA and OSHA to issue a rule setting a reduced line speed.

Auckland, New Zealand – Many New Zealand workers lack adequate literacy skills to fully understand their employer’s safety and health policies and correctly complete hazard reports, according to a new study from Workbase, an organization focused on literacy development.

Atlanta – Older workers die in highway transportation incidents more often than younger workers, according to a new analysis from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Washington – The Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission intends to reduce the average length of time it takes to resolve cases as part of its new five-year strategic plan.

Washington – OSHA has announced it will issue a proposed rule to revise the agency’s standards on occupational exposure to crystalline silica.

Washington – The number of fatal workplace injuries decreased in 2012 from the previous year, according to a preliminary report released Aug. 22 by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.