Federal Agencies

Washington — Fires and explosions from flammable atmospheres in confined spaces are the most common causes of hot work-related fatalities among workers, the Chemical Safety Board states in a recently released fact sheet.

Washington — The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration is seeking input on potential improvements to its Emergency Response Guidebook as the agency prepares a revised edition for release in 2020, according to a notice published in the May 23 Federal Register.

Washington — OSHA has scheduled a public meeting for June 12 to discuss proposals ahead of the 35th session of the United Nations Sub-Committee of Experts on the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals.

Washington — A leading Democratic congressman is questioning why the Department of Labor wants to expand the number of hazardous jobs available to 16- and 17-year-olds.

Washington — A bipartisan group of 30 senators is calling for Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Administrator Raymond Martinez to “explore improvements” to hours-of-service regulations for commercial truck drivers.

Washington — Manufacturers of certain N95 respirators will be able to submit a single application to NIOSH, rather than to both the Food and Drug Administration and NIOSH, before marketing their product to the health care industry, according to an FDA final order published in the May 17 Federal Register.

Washington — Legislative action is needed to clarify the Mine Safety and Health Administration’s authority to issue mine closure orders, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General states in its semiannual report to Congress.

Washington — OSHA has published a proposed rule intended to give the agency enough time to make alterations to its beryllium standard for general industry.

Washington — Environmental group Earthjustice and the United Steelworkers are among the organizations speaking out against the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed changes to its Risk Management Program.

Federal OSHA is requiring covered establishments in State Plan states that don't have electronic recordkeeping rules to submit their 2017 injury and illness data from Form 300A. Two states are telling employers to disregard the directive.