Federal Agencies

A weekend session of Congress resulted in passage of a $1.1 trillion budget agreement that will provide stable funding to OSHA and other federal safety agencies.

Washington – OSHA lacks a “credible deterrent” to ensure chemical facilities operate safely, and an update to the agency’s Process Safety Management Standard is years away, OSHA administrator David Michaels said during a Senate committee hearing Dec. 11.

A deadly incident at a DuPont chemical plant in Texas in November is the latest example of “a lack of safe design requirements and risk reduction targets,” Chemical Safety Board Chairman Rafael Moure-Eraso said at a Senate hearing on Dec. 11.

Washington – The House and Senate Appropriations committees’ omnibus budget agreement gives a slight funding boost to OSHA, but falls far short of the Obama administration’s request.

OSHA employee satisfaction increased in 2014, according to an annual survey that ranks federal agencies.

Washington – The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement has extended the comment period on a proposal that is intended to improve aviation safety on and around fixed offshore facilities.

Washington – A recently issued Federal Railroad Administration safety advisory aims to improve protection of rail workers on active tracks under dispatcher supervision.

Washington – An online training resource from NIOSH aims to help emergency responders who work long hours in demanding situations.

Washington – On the 30th anniversary of an industrial toxic gas release that killed tens of thousands of people in India, the Chemical Safety Board called on the United States to reform state and federal regulations to reduce the risk of other disasters occurring.

Washington – A new OSHA fact sheet provides guidance on selecting personal protective equipment for workers who may be exposed to Ebola.