Mining/Oil/Gas

Washington — Approximately 18,000 miles of decommissioned oil and gas pipelines in the Gulf of Mexico pose safety and environmental risks, according to a new report from the Government Accountability Office.

Chicago — Physicians contracted by mine operators to review chest X-rays of coal miners who file “totally debilitating disease” workers’ compensation claims with the Department of Labor’s Federal Black Lung Program may have a bias strongly related to financial conflict of interest, researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago suggest.

Washington — NIOSH has updated its mobile app designed to help mine workers assess the ergonomics of common job tasks and identify potential worksite safety hazards.

Washington — The Mine Safety and Health Administration “did not properly manage the process it used to issue, terminate, modify and vacate violations,” concludes a Department of Labor Office of Inspector General audit released March 31.

Charleston, WV — The West Virginia House of Delegates on March 31 passed a bill that would establish a memorial to child workers.

Arlington, VA — The Mine Safety and Health Administration is accepting applications for its Brookwood-Sago Mine Safety Grants Program.

Washington — In the more than 18 months since the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement unveiled its free BSEE!Safe text message alert system, the agency reports it has supplied links to BSEE safety alerts and bulletins covering offshore oil and gas work on the Outer Continental Shelf to over 7,000 subscribers.

Arlington, VA — The Mine Safety and Health Administration has updated its guidance on preventing COVID-19 exposure among workers at coal, metal and nonmetal mines.

Washington — A pair of House Republicans are urging the Department of Labor to solicit feedback from business owners and workers before OSHA moves forward with a potential emergency temporary standard related to COVID-19.

Washington — President Joe Biden on Feb. 1 named Jeannette Galanis acting assistant labor secretary for the Mine Safety and Health Administration, which is awaiting the president’s nomination for a permanent leader.