Transportation

Washington – The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration has extended its compliance date for a final rule regarding the transportation of lithium cells and batteries.

Although the number of alcohol-impaired drivers on U.S. highways has decreased, more drivers are now using marijuana and prescription drugs, according to two recent studies from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The potential for faulty electronic alertness devices on trains has prompted the National Transportation Safety Board to issue urgent safety recommendations.

The Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General has notified the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration that it will audit an upcoming study regarding restart rules for commercial truck drivers.

A newly formed 26-member advisory committee will help to update classroom and behind-the-wheel training requirements for professional truck and bus drivers, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration announced Feb. 10.

NIOSH is asking stakeholders to weigh in on the successes of, or challenges facing, the agency’s National Occupational Research Agenda.

Improvements in vehicle safety technologies saved more than 600,000 lives from 1960 to 2012, according to a study from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The ranking member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee has called for a full audit of safety programs within the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration.

Fumigants used in the grain industry contain chemicals that can contribute to cancer, heart disease and other permanent health disorders among workers, OSHA cautioned in a Safety and Health Information Bulletin released in January.

President Barack Obama has asked Congress to allot $668.5 million to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration as part of a $4 trillion budget proposal for fiscal year 2016.