Transportation

Washington – Prompted by multiple train derailment-related explosions in recent years, North Dakota Sens. Heidi Heitkamp (D) and John Hoeven (R) met with federal transportation officials on Jan. 9 to discuss their concerns about the safety of shipping crude oil by rail.

Washington – Stakeholders at a Jan. 9 public meeting in Washington showed a sharp difference of opinion on proposed changes to OSHA’s Recordkeeping Standard.

Washington – The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has released guidance on break requirements for short-haul commercial truck drivers who unintentionally exceed time or distance driving limits.

Washington – OSHA has extended to March 8 the comment period for its proposed rule on recordkeeping, the agency announced Jan. 6.

Washington – Crude oil shipped from the Bakken Formation – located in North Dakota, Montana and nearby Canadian provinces – may be more flammable than “traditional” heavy crude oil, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration warned shippers, sellers and emergency responders in a Jan. 2 safety advisory.

Washington – The National Transportation Safety Board has sent the Federal Transit Administration two recommendations aimed at protecting railway track workers, after an investigation of a fatal incident in October 2013 revealed safety vulnerabilities.

Eagan, MN – Some workers are not reporting on-the-job injuries for fear of retaliation, according to survey results released in December by FindLaw.com, a legal information website.

Can safety culture be regulated? The National Transportation Safety Board recently hosted a forum to discuss what – if any – role the government can play in influencing a positive safety culture in the transportation industry.

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.