Transportation

Washington – OSHA lacks sufficient controls to ensure worksites in the Voluntary Protection Programs maintain “exemplary occupational safety and health systems,” according to a Dec. 16 report from the Department of Labor Office of Inspector General.

Washington – Almost half of drivers in a recent survey said they worry about crashing due to driving too fast, yet more than a quarter admitted to exceeding speed limits.

Washington – Using preliminary information from a Dec. 1 fatal speeding-related derailment in New York, the Federal Railroad Administration on Dec. 11 issued a safety advisory to the railroad industry on obeying maximum speed limits.

Washington – The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is extending to Jan. 21 the comment period on a proposal to change the design of its truck and bus carrier safety ratings website.

Arlington, VA – Two trucker associations have jointly proposed a pilot program to evaluate the fatigue and safety impacts of allowing truckers to split a single 10-hour off-duty sleep period into multiple segments.

Washington – The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration shut down 52 bus carriers and took 340 individual vehicles off the road during its eight-month safety crackdown on the motorcoach industry.

Washington – Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) has called for lawmakers to keep the Dec. 31, 2015, deadline for installation of a crash avoidance system known as positive train control on passenger rail systems.

Washington – The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on Dec. 5 announced a new five-year plan aimed at improving the safety of older drivers and passengers.

Washington – Chemical Safety Board Chairman Rafael Moure-Eraso has requested an update from the Department of Transportation on DOT’s plans to address a long-standing CSB safety recommendation to regulate chlorine railcar unloading operations.

Washington – The Department of Transportation is hosting a free webinar on Dec. 18 focusing on its study of the safety and infrastructure impacts of raising federal truck size and weight limits.