Federal Agencies

Washington — The Senate on Aug. 1 passed legislation that would grant an electronic logging device exemption for livestock and insect haulers until Sept. 30, 2019.

Washington — The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has withdrawn proposed changes to its Compliance, Safety, Accountability program and removed them from its Safety Measurement System website as part of a larger planned overhaul, according to a notice published in the July 16 Federal Register.

Washington — Offshore drilling rig operators in the Gulf of Mexico reported 1,129 blowout preventer equipment component failures in 2017, according to the latest annual report from the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement’s SafeOCS reporting system.

Washington — OSHA recently announced an update of its webpage on avian influenza.

Washington — Staffing agencies and host employers share responsibility for protecting temporary workers from respiratory and noise hazards, according to separate bulletins recently released by OSHA as part of its Temporary Worker Initiative.

Washington — OSHA is extending to Dec. 12 the compliance date for certain ancillary provisions in its beryllium standard for general industry, the agency has announced.

Washington — Noting that it “has conducted several investigations where insufficient safety requirements for contractor selection and oversight were found to be causal to the incident,” the Chemical Safety Board has published a new “Safety Digest” highlighting the issue.

Washington — The Federal Railroad Administration has published a safety advisory on potential damage to train rails caused by pressure electric welding.

Washington — OSHA has made available $10.5 million in grants to improve worker safety and health as part of its Susan Harwood Training Grant Program, according to a notice published in the Aug. 3 Federal Register.

Washington — A sizable contingent of House Democrats is expressing concerns with the Department of Labor’s proposal to allow certain 16- and 17-year-olds to perform hazardous jobs, in a letter sent Aug. 1 to Secretary of Labor R. Alexander Acosta and Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney.