Federal Agencies

Arlington, VA – The Mine Safety and Health Administration has issued a drill entanglement safety alert to call attention to safe practices and the importance of equipment maintenance.

Washington – Serious incidents involving e-cigarettes and similar battery-powered, portable electronic smoking devices have prompted the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to issue a safety advisory aimed at commercial motor vehicle drivers.

Washington – OSHA has established an interim citation policy regarding concentrations of chemicals listed in Appendix A of the Process Safety Management Standard, according to a recent memorandum issued to regional administrators and State Plan designees.

Arlington, VA – The overall permissible level of respirable dust in coal mines has been lowered to 1.5 milligrams per cubic meter of air from 2.0 as part of the third – and final – phase of the Mine Safety and Health Administration’s rule on limiting miner exposure to coal mine dust.

Washington – Passenger railroads will need to adopt additional proactive safety measures to prevent incidents, injuries and fatalities, according to a final rule from the Federal Railroad Administration.

Washington – Commercial drivers who transport livestock and bees are exempt from certain hours-of-service requirements as part of a final rule published July 22 by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

Washington – NIOSH has created a mobile app to accompany its Pocket Guide on Chemical Hazards.

Washington – T.F. Scott Darling III was confirmed by the Senate as administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration on July 14, nearly two years after becoming acting administrator.

Washington – The rail industry has no reason not to exceed a government-imposed deadline for key safety improvements to rail tank cars that transport flammable liquids, Robert Sumwalt, a member of the National Transportation Safety Board, said July 13 during an NTSB roundtable discussion.