Federal Agencies

Washington — NIOSH, OSHA and the Center for Construction Research and Training – also known as CPWR – are among the entities encouraging construction employers to stop work to discuss fall hazards and prevention with workers during the fifth annual National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction, scheduled to take place May 7-11.

Washington — The Environmental Protection Agency has released a draft of its revised respirator descriptions for pesticide labels and is seeking public comment.

Arlington, VA — The Mine Safety and Health Administration has reopened the comment period on a Request for Information on ways to monitor and regulate miner exposure to diesel exhaust in underground mines.

Washington — The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is asking for input on how existing regulations for commercial motor vehicles may need to be changed, updated or eliminated to further the safe testing and deployment of CMVs equipped with automated driving systems.

New Orleans — A new approach that allows Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement inspectors to access electronic records onshore will increase their physical inspection time at more than 2,200 offshore oil and gas facilities in the Gulf of Mexico, the agency recently announced.

Washington — Law enforcement officers have a nonfatal injury rate nearly three times higher than the general workforce – with “assaults and violent acts” against them the leading cause – according to a recent NIOSH study.

Washington — The passage and signing of the Consolidated Appropriations Act (also known as the omnibus bill) on March 23 means stable funding for safety agencies through at least September.

OSHA needs to improve its “attitude and relationship” with stakeholders, an attorney representing the U.S. Chamber of Commerce told members of the House, while former agency administrator David Michaels said the assertion that OSHA doesn’t partner with industry is “really discrediting the agency and is not based in fact.”

Philadelphia — To help raise awareness of the four leading safety hazards in the construction industry, OSHA is launching its Focus Four Hazards campaign for Region 3, the agency announced March 9.

New Orleans — The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement has introduced a risk-based inspection program intended to improve safety for offshore oil and gas workers.