Federal Agencies

Washington — OSHA is accepting nominations until Nov. 22 for membership on the reestablished Federal Advisory Council on Occupational Safety and Health.

Greenbelt, MD — Law enforcement officials issued more than 27,000 citations and warnings to drivers during the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s annual Operation Safe Driver Week.

Washington — Doug Parker is OSHA’s first Senate-confirmed leader in nearly five years, after his nomination for assistant labor secretary was approved with a 50-41 vote Oct. 25.

Washington — The Federal Transit Administration wants to know how it can better protect transit workers.

Washington — Meera Joshi’s nomination to lead the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration moved closer to a Senate confirmation with a 22-6 vote by the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee on Oct. 20.

Washington — OSHA has warned Arizona, South Carolina and Utah to adopt their own version of the agency’s emergency temporary standard on COVID-19 for health care workers or face possible revocation of their State Plan status, according to multiple reports.

Washington — A new fact sheet from OSHA details protections for employees who report workplace health and safety concerns related to COVID-19, and includes other relevant information for whistleblowers.

Washington — State driver’s licensing agencies will have 60 days to initiate mandatory downgrades of commercial driver’s licenses and commercial learner’s permits once notified that a commercial motor vehicle operator has failed a drug or alcohol test, under a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration final rule set to go into effect Nov. 8.

Washington — OSHA, NIOSH and a coalition of safety organizations – including the National Safety Council – on Nov. 16 will host a free webinar on driving employee participation in safety through representation.

Arlington, VA — The Mine Safety and Health Administration will not require COVID-19 vaccination or weekly negative testing at the nation’s mines, Jeanette Galanis, MSHA deputy assistant secretary for policy and acting administrator, said during a Sept. 29 stakeholder conference call.