Federal Agencies

Arlington, VA – Miners in warehouses and other storage areas are at risk for musculoskeletal disorders and other types of injuries and illnesses, the Mine Safety and Health Administration cautions in a new safety alert.

Washington – The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and the Federal Railroad Administration have released information about three public listening sessions intended to help the agencies learn more about obstructive sleep apnea among commercial motor vehicle drivers and rail workers.

Washington – Senators on both sides of the aisle have introduced legislation that would make permanent OSHA’s Voluntary Protection Programs.

Washington – Newly released interim guidance from OSHA and NIOSH urges employers to train employees on the risks of exposure to the Zika virus and outlines protective measures.

Washington – OSHA’s Whistleblower Protection Advisory Committee is set for the next two years following Secretary of Labor Thomas Perez’s renewal of the group’s charter.

The era of criminal prosecutions for violations of workplace safety laws being rare may be over, as the Departments of Justice and Labor have agreed to work closer together. Is this a new world of safety, or simply a patch for a broken system?

OSHA announced on March 24 the release of a final rule intended to protect workers from respirable crystalline silica. The agency claims the rule will save more than 600 lives and prevent more than 900 cases of the lung disease silicosis per year, but critics argue the rule is unnecessary and compliance will be costly.

Washington – An on-the-job injury suffered by a drunk employee is likely a recordable case, OSHA states in a new letter of interpretation.

Washington – The Department of Transportation has created a working group to study how it distributes grant funding to states for large truck and bus safety initiatives.

Washington – The Federal Railroad Administration has bolstered its bridge safety oversight program in an effort to protect rail workers and the public.