Federal Agencies

Washington — To help protect retail pharmacy workers from exposure to COVID-19, OSHA has issued a safety alert.

Washington — The National Transportation Safety Board is calling for changes to shipping requirements for certain types of lithium-ion batteries, after an agency investigation into a shipment of batteries that ignited while being transported via a delivery truck in Canada.

Washington — In response to reported shortages of filtering facepiece respirators and declining availability of fit testing, the Environmental Protection Agency has issued temporary guidance intended to help protect workers who handle agricultural pesticides against exposure to COVID-19.

Washington — Bipartisan legislation recently introduced in the Senate would require the Mine Safety and Health Administration to issue within seven days of enactment an emergency temporary standard to help protect mine workers from exposure to COVID-19, followed by the issuance of a final rule.

Silver Spring, MD — Pausing on an image of workers installing a septic tank liner, OSHA Directorate of Construction Director Scott Ketcham told attendees of a May 28 webinar they were looking at “a tragedy in the making.”

Washington — The Department of Transportation has announced it will distribute about 15.5 million cloth facial coverings to transportation workers during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Washington — New guidance from OSHA answers six frequently asked questions regarding the use of masks in the workplace during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Itasca, IL — The National Safety Council has issued a policy position statement calling on OSHA to immediately exercise its authority and issue an emergency temporary standard to protect workers as organizations reopen amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Oakland, CA — Data from OSHA’s Form 300A is not confidential – in part because employers already are required to share injury and illness information with current and former employees, who in turn are free to share it, a federal judge has ruled.

Washington — OSHA and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration will host virtual public meetings June 24 in preparation for a pair of United Nations meetings.