Federal Agencies

Washington — More than 20 percent of workers are obese, don’t get enough physical activity or are short on sleep, according to a recent study from NIOSH.

Washington — A coalition of 42 organizations has sent a letter to Secretary of Labor R. Alexander Acosta expressing its concern regarding “recent reports that the Department of Labor is stalling, disbanding and allowing the lapse of several critical federal advisory committees” at OSHA.

Washington — OSHA and the trucking industry have partnered on a flier intended to raise awareness of the three most common hazards tractor-trailer drivers face after reaching their destinations.

Washington — The state of workplace safety and health protections in the United States is a “national crisis,” according to Richard Trumka, president of the AFL-CIO, which has released its annual report detailing the hazards that workers face every day on the job.

Washington — Chemical facility owners and operators should assess their preventive maintenance programs routinely and seek out assistance from industry groups, the Chemical Safety Board and the Chlorine Institute advise in a joint statement released Feb. 20.

Washington — Fiscal year 2017 was “a dynamic year of growth and expansion” for the Office of Compliance, which is charged with overseeing the safety and health of federal legislative branch workers, OOC Executive Director Susan Tsui Grundmann said in the office’s annual report, released April 13.

Arlington, VA — The Mine Safety and Health Administration has published a final rule on pre-shift examinations of metal and non-metal mines.

Washington — Seal checks should be conducted every time respiratory protection is used on the job, and employers and workers should ensure the equipment is worn properly so an adequate seal is achieved, NIOSH states in a recently published list of frequently asked questions about user seal checks.

Washington — A more vigorous process safety management system approach likely would have helped identify, evaluate and control the hazards that led to a hot work-related explosion that killed three workers and injured seven others last year in DeRidder, LA.

A Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration rule requiring the use of electronic logging devices to track driver hours of service is in effect, but critics remain vocal.