Federal Agencies

Washington — Better outreach, collaboration and information sharing among federal agencies is needed to improve worker safety in the meat and poultry slaughter and processing industries, the Government Accountability Office concluded in a recently released report.

Washington — The percentage of commercial truck and bus drivers buckling up climbed to a record-high 86 percent in 2016, according to the results of a survey conducted by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

Washington — NIOSH has withdrawn a notice of proposed rulemaking that would have established standards for total inward leakage of half-mask air-purifying particulate respirators.

Washington – The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration will issue guidance intended to “ease the transition” to full implementation of its rule – set to go into effect Dec. 18 – on electronic logging devices in commercial motor vehicles, the agency announced Nov. 20.

Washington – The Federal Railroad Administration again is delaying its requirement for commuter and intercity passenger railroads to create and implement a system safety program.

Washington – A recently released fact sheet from OSHA is intended to protect longshore workers who handle baggage at cruise ship terminals.

Which violation is making its first appearance on OSHA’s list of most-cited violations? Safety+Health presents the data on OSHA’s “Top 10” for fiscal year 2017. Also: A Q&A with Patrick Kapust, deputy director of the agency’s Directorate of Enforcement Programs.

Washington – OSHA has delayed until Dec. 15 the compliance date for employers to electronically submit injury and illness data.

Washington – OSHA is on the verge of officially pushing to Dec. 1 the compliance date for employers to electronically submit injury and illness data.

Washington – A group of Senate Democrats and an independent have introduced legislation seeking to amend the Toxic Substances Control Act to eliminate human or environmental exposure to asbestos, a known carcinogen still legal in the United States.