Federal Agencies

Washington — OSHA is accepting nominations until Feb. 22 for an employee representative on its Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and Health.

Washington — OSHA is withdrawing its emergency temporary standard on COVID-19 vaccination, testing and masking, the agency announced Jan. 25.

Galveston, TX — The Biden administration can’t enforce its COVID-19 vaccine mandate for federal employees, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas ruled in a decision issued Jan. 21.

Washington — The ninth annual National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction is set for May 2-6.

Washington — The Senate has confirmed Amit Bose as administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration, with a 68-29 vote Jan. 12.

Washington — The Environmental Protection Agency is seeking public comment on a revised draft risk evaluation that states Cyclic Aliphatic Bromide Cluster poses unreasonable risk under certain conditions – a reversal of previous findings that the chemical substance presents no unreasonable risk of injury to humans or the environment, according to a notice published in the Dec. 29 Federal Register.

Washington — The Environmental Protection Agency is seeking comment on a draft of Part 2 of a final risk evaluation that concludes asbestos – a known human carcinogen – presents an unreasonable health risk to workers under certain conditions.

Washington — Robin Hutcheson has been appointed deputy administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the Department of Transportation announced Jan. 19.

Arlington, VA — The Mine Safety and Health Administration has published a series of posters intended to help mine operators mitigate hazards that occur during winter months.

Washington — OSHA, the Mine Safety and Health Administration, and other Department of Labor agencies have increased civil penalty amounts for violations to adjust for inflation, effective Jan. 15.