Federal Agencies

Morgantown, WV — A new safety advisory from NIOSH is aimed at helping firefighters understand how to use multi-gas monitors when responding to natural gas or propane incidents.

Washington — Workers involved in cleanup after the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil rig disaster were significantly more likely to have been diagnosed with asthma or experienced asthma symptoms within three years of the incident, according to a new study from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.

Washington — The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is requesting comment on its plan to revise and restore the agency’s Medical Examiner’s Handbook, which guides personnel who complete physical exams for commercial motor vehicle drivers.

Washington — A pair of advocacy groups are calling on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to reconsider a final rule aimed at strengthening protections for drivers and passengers in light vehicles involved in “underride” crashes, which occur when vehicles strike the rear of large trucks and slide underneath.

Washington — In an effort to enhance enforcement of and compliance with workplace safety standards, OSHA has expanded the criteria for placement in its Severe Violator Enforcement Program to include violations of all hazards and agency standards, OSHA announced Sept. 15.

Washington — Agency leadership issues, limited staffing and ambiguous internal investigative protocol have interfered with the Chemical Safety Board’s “ability to accomplish its mission,” the Environmental Protection Agency Office of Inspector General says in a report issued Sept. 7.

Washington — In an effort to ensure all worker voices are heard and to foster employee inclusion, OSHA and a coalition of Department of Labor agencies will host the Workers’ Voice Summit Sept. 27-29.

Washington — OSHA has announced that 14 nonprofit organizations are receiving grants that total more than $1.9 million for workplace training on infectious diseases as part of its Susan Harwood Training Grant Program.

Washington — Equitable personal protective equipment protections for all U.S. workers will be the topic of an upcoming NIOSH virtual workshop, slated for Nov. 8-9.

Washington — NIOSH is seeking public and interagency input on a proposed information-collecting project focused on assessing fatigue and fatigue management in onshore oil and gas extraction.