Manufacturing

Washington — Sylvia Johnson and Steve Owens on Feb. 2 were sworn in to serve five-year terms on the Chemical Safety Board, an agency that has operated with Chair and CEO Katherine Lemos as a self-described “quorum of one” since May 1, 2020.

Washington — The Environmental Protection Agency is seeking public comment on a revised draft risk evaluation that states Cyclic Aliphatic Bromide Cluster poses unreasonable risk under certain conditions – a reversal of previous findings that the chemical substance presents no unreasonable risk of injury to humans or the environment, according to a notice published in the Dec. 29 Federal Register.

Washington — The Environmental Protection Agency is seeking comment on a draft of Part 2 of a final risk evaluation that concludes asbestos – a known human carcinogen – presents an unreasonable health risk to workers under certain conditions.

Washington — Legislation recently introduced in the House and Senate is aimed at improving working conditions and whistleblower protections in the meat and poultry processing industry.

Washington — The Environmental Protection Agency is requesting public comment on a draft Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976 systematic review protocol intended to “strengthen EPA’s approach to reviewing and selecting the scientific studies that are used to inform TSCA chemical risk evaluations.”

Washington — The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety Inspection Service, in collaboration with OSHA, will allow select pork-processing facilities – on a trial basis – to operate at increased line speeds for up to one year while gathering data that “measures the impact of line speed on workers.”

Washington — The Senate on Dec. 9 confirmed two new members to serve on the Chemical Safety Board, boosting the profile of an agency that – for more than 18 months – has carried on with only one of its five board seats filled.

Washington — Carrying on with only one of its five board seats filled “impairs the function” of the Chemical Safety Board and “continues to be the biggest risk” to agency operations, the Environmental Protection Agency Office of Inspector General contends in a new report.

Washington — More than half of workers who are exposed to hazardous noise on the job don’t consistently use hearing protection, results of a recent NIOSH study show.

Kansas City, MO — A new Regional Emphasis Program from OSHA is aimed at protecting workers in the Midwest from occupational exposure to hazardous and potentially carcinogenic substances such as asbestos, formaldehyde and cadmium.