Federal Agencies

Washington – A wide-ranging spending bill that proposes to cut funding for Department of Labor agencies – including OSHA – is difficult but necessary, House Appropriations Committee Chairman Hal Rogers (R-KY) said July 13 during a full committee markup of the Fiscal Year 2017 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education funding bill.

Washington – NIOSH is seeking feedback on improving workplace safety and health for health care and social assistance sector workers, as part of the National Occupational Research Agenda.

Washington – The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has proposed to develop and implement a trial program that would exclude non-preventable crashes from motor carriers’ safety records.

Washington – The Office of Compliance’s Office of General Counsel expects to conduct more safety inspections of legislative-branch workplaces during the 114th Congress than it did during the previous Congress, according to OOC’s annual report for fiscal year 2015.

Washington – OSHA’s budget would decrease by $18.4 million in fiscal 2017 as part of a draft bill released by the House Appropriations Committee.

Washington – The “deterrent effect” of OSHA fines takes a hit when the agency reduces penalties in cases involving willful violations and worker deaths – and OSHA too often agrees to reduce fines in exchange for an employer’s promise to quickly abate hazards, according to a report released June 30 by the Center for Progressive Reform.

Atlanta – Strategies for preventing worker suicide are needed, researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention claim in a new report detailing the rates of self-inflicted death among U.S. workers.

Washington – Two new fact sheets from OSHA provide information intended to protect workers from combustible dust explosion hazards and agricultural emergencies.

Arlington, VA – The Mine Safety and Health Administration has found no Pattern of Violations offenders among the nation’s more than 13,000 mines for the first time since POV reforms took effect in 2010, the agency announced June 29.

Washington – The Department of Labor has announced a pair of interim final rules that allow OSHA to adjust its civil penalties to account for inflation.