Federal Agencies

Washington — The number of safety hazards identified during inspections of congressional offices throughout the 117th Congress dropped 27% from the prior Congress, the Office of Congressional Workplace Rights states in a biennial report.

Washington — The Department of Transportation is asking for feedback on a proposed rule that would add fentanyl and non-fentanyl to its drug testing panels.

Washington — The first regulatory agenda of President Donald Trump’s second administration, officially published Sept. 4, includes the recent spate of proposed rules issued by the Department of Labor’s safety agencies.

Washington — A House appropriations subcommittee is proposing 8%, 10% and 14% funding cuts to OSHA, the Mine Safety and Health Administration, and NIOSH, respectively.

Washington — Enforcement of a Mine Safety and Health Administration final rule on miner exposure to respirable crystalline silica has been delayed to Oct. 17 after the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals granted a temporary stay of the rule.

San Jose, CA — A California utility provider has reached a first-of-its-kind settlement with the Environmental Protection Agency related to allegations that the company violated the Chemical Safety Board’s accidental release reporting rule.

Washington — The Federal Railroad Administration has delayed by one year the compliance dates for a final rule concerning emergency escape breathing apparatus on trains carrying hazardous materials.

Washington — The top Democrat on the House Education and Workforce Committee is again calling for an oversight hearing on recent layoffs at the Department of Health and Human Services, including those at NIOSH.

Washington — The Environmental Protection Agency has pushed to Nov. 17 the effective date of certain regulations within a final rule that will ban the use of the toxic chemical trichloroethylene.

Washington — OSHA has extended to Nov. 1 the deadline to comment on 20 of the 25 proposed rules the agency published on July 1.