Federal Agencies

Washington — NIOSH is accepting nominations for the 2020 Safe-in-Sound Excellence in Hearing Loss Prevention Awards, which honor professionals who contribute to preventing noise-induced hearing loss and tinnitus through effective practices or innovations.

Washington — The Chemical Safety Board will look into its recent decision to not include in its reports the names of workers who died in chemical incidents, interim Executive Authority Kristen Kulinowski said during a June 25 public business meeting.

Washington — Nearly two years after the Federal Railroad Administration first published a final rule requiring commuter and intercity passenger railroads to develop and implement system safety programs, the process has hit another hurdle.

Washington — OSHA should apply its Process Safety Management standard to the drilling of onshore oil and gas wells, or – if not – customize it to oil and gas drilling operations or develop a new standard, the Chemical Safety Board recommends in its final report on a deadly January 2018 gas well blowout and rig fire in Oklahoma.

Washington — The U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General is investigating the effectiveness and integrity of USDA’s procedures to develop and advance a controversial proposed rule that would remove maximum line speeds in pork-processing plants, according to a letter obtained by multiple media outlets.

Washington — The Mine Safety and Health Administration’s planned Request for Information on respirable crystalline silica, scheduled for publication in July, will focus on personal protective equipment – mainly helmets with respirators – according to agency chief David Zatezalo.

Washington — The publication of a proposed rule intended to add flexibility to hours-of-service regulations for commercial truck drivers is expected soon, on the heels of a recent delay, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration head Raymond Martinez said during a June 19 hearing before the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee.

Washington — President Donald Trump has announced his intention to nominate Katherine Lemos as a member of the Chemical Safety Board.

Washington — The Department of Labor has named the 15 members of its Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and Health and scheduled a meeting for July 17-18 in the nation’s capital.

Washington — The House on June 19 passed a “minibus” appropriations bill that includes fiscal year 2020 funding for OSHA, NIOSH, and the Mine Safety and Health Administration.