Manufacturing

Washington – The Chemical Safety Board’s investigation of the April explosion at a fertilizer facility in West, TX, is on hold because of the government shutdown.

Chicago – Fall protection is once again the most frequently cited OSHA standard, Safety+Health magazine announced Oct. 1 at the 2013 NSC Congress & Expo.

Honolulu – The Hawaii Occupational Safety and Health Division has resumed enforcement authority over the state’s manufacturing sector.

Washington – The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has denied the majority of requests to delay new vehicle manufacturing requirements intended to help prevent passenger ejections from side windows during a crash or rollover.

Washington – The Environmental Protection Agency has launched a tool that aims to provide easier access to chemical safety and health data.

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 – 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.

Washington – All major motor vehicle manufacturers must begin providing consumers access to vehicle safety recall information by Aug. 14, 2014, according to a final rule from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.