Federal Agencies

Amarillo, TX — A federal judge has vacated segments of guidance from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission aimed at preventing and addressing worker harassment based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

Washington — The General Services Administration will retain leases for 34 Mine Safety and Health Administration field offices that were recommended for closure by the Department of Government Efficiency, a Department of Labor spokesperson has confirmed.

Washington — Operators of offshore oil and gas rigs and their contractors should train all workers on proper procedures and safety precautions for handling and transporting high-pressure nitrogen cylinders, the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement says in a recently released alert.

Washington — Proficiency in speaking and reading English “should be a nonnegotiable safety requirement” for commercial truck drivers, according to an Executive Order recently issued by President Donald Trump.

Arlington, VA — Nearly 1 out of 5 violations assessed by the Mine Safety and Health Administration over a recent six-month period were reasonably likely to result in a serious injury or illness, the agency says in a new Informational Alert.

Washington — Inspectors and investigators employed by OSHA and the Mine Safety and Health Administration are exempt from taking part in the federal government’s deferred resignation program, Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer clarified during a May 22 Senate subcommittee meeting on the Department of Labor’s fiscal year 2026 budget.

Washington — Wayne Palmer’s nomination to lead the Mine Safety and Health Administration has advanced to the full Senate, after a 12-11 party-line vote by the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee on May 22.

Washington — In an effort to prevent backover incidents on construction sites, OSHA has launched an initiative aimed at raising awareness of safe practices.

Washington — OSHA has updated the criteria it uses to direct agency enforcement resources to workplaces via its Site-Specific Targeting inspection program.

Washington — In the eyes of Rep. Ryan Mackenzie (R-PA), the House Workforce Protections Subcommittee hearing on May 15 was for employers who are “seeking clarity and flexibility in OSHA standards.”