Federal Agencies

Washington — The House passed a package of seven appropriations bills – including one that would give budget increases to worker safety agencies – with a 219-208 vote July 29.

Chicago — OSHA has launched a pair of Regional Emphasis Programs focused on reducing injuries, illnesses and fatalities among workers involved in transportation tank cleaning operations in the Midwest and South.

Silver Spring, MD — The nation’s largest union and professional association of direct care registered nurses is urging the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to update agency guidance and reinstate the “recommendation to everyone to wear masks in public or in physical proximity to others outside their own household.”

Washington — Amid concerns from stakeholders – including a trade association representing chemical manufacturers – a trio of Chemical Safety Board nominees defended their qualifications during a July 29 confirmation hearing before the Senate Chemical Safety, Waste Management, Environmental Justice, and Regulatory Oversight Subcommittee.

Brussels — Anticipating and managing change brought by demographic, digital and green transitions, along with changes to the “traditional work environment,” is one of three objectives in the European Union’s six-year strategic plan to identify and address workplace hazards.

Washington — To protect the health and safety of astronauts, NASA should proceed with its proposals to set a universal careerlong radiation dose limit – regardless of age or gender – and improve its system for communicating cancer risks, a recently released report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine recommends.

Washington — Prompted by an “increased domestic supply” of NIOSH-approved respirators, the Food and Drug Administration has revoked its emergency use authorizations for non-NIOSH-approved disposable respirators as well as decontamination and bioburden reduction systems.

Washington — OSHA is seeking information for, as well as comment on, a potential update to its 50-year-old standard on mechanical power presses.

Washington — OSHA has published an instructional directive to ensure the agency “communicates its fatality inspection procedures to the victim’s family and facilitates the exchange of information throughout the inspection and settlement process.”

Washington — The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has finalized an interim final rule that delayed, by two years, the compliance date for its initial final rule on minimum training requirements for entry-level commercial motor vehicle drivers.