Transportation

Washington — A closer look at the safety and health of airline ground workers is long overdue, Rep. Rick Larsen (D-WA) said during a Jan. 15 oversight hearing recently convened by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee’s Aviation Subcommittee.

Washington — In response to a petition for rulemaking, the Federal Railroad Administration is delaying by 16 months the implementation dates of its Training, Qualification, and Oversight for Safety-Related Railroad Employees regulation.

Washington — Effective Jan. 1, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration doubled its minimum rate for random controlled substances testing to 50% of the average number of commercial motor vehicle driver positions.

Washington — NIOSH is seeking comment on a draft of the 2020-2029 strategic plan for its Center for Motor Vehicle Safety.

Washington — A total of 5,250 workers died as a result of on-the-job injuries in 2018 – a 2% increase from 2017 and the highest number of fatalities since 5,657 were recorded in 2007, according to Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries data released Dec. 17 by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Washington — NIOSH has published a fact sheet intended to help prevent taxi drivers from becoming victims of robbery and violence on the job.

Washington — Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao on Dec. 3 signed a final “rule on rules,” a 98-page document that provides guidelines for the department’s rulemaking, guidance and enforcement.

Wigston, England — The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health has released a pocket card intended to help protect workers from diesel exhaust fumes.

Washington — In response to a petition for rulemaking, the Federal Railroad Administration is seeking to further delay by 16 months the implementation dates of its proposed Training, Qualification, and Oversight for Safety-Related Railroad Employees regulation.

Washington — Commercial motor vehicle inspectors will not observe a “soft enforcement” grace period for drivers still using automatic onboard recording devices to track their hours of service after Dec. 16, and such drivers will be placed out of service for violating Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regulations, the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance warns in a Dec. 2 press release.