Inspections

Washington — Most safety inspection jobs are expected to outpace projected overall national employment growth over the next several years, a Bureau of Labor Statistics report indicates.

Washington — Secretary of Labor R. Alexander Acosta touted the number of annual OSHA inspections conducted over the past two fiscal years – despite the agency being short-staffed – during an April 3 congressional appropriations hearing, saying he expects an increase when recently hired inspectors get fully up to speed.

New York — OSHA enforcement activity “continues to decline” under the Trump administration, according to the National Employment Law Project, citing the agency’s own metrics. The advocacy group also claims that OSHA’s fatality/catastrophe investigations climbed to their highest level in a decade in fiscal year 2018.

Washington — Offices in the legislative branch should be required to comply with investigative subpoenas related to workplace safety and health, the Office of Congressional Workplace Rights states in its biennial report to Congress, issued March 4.

Washington — The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement has found “noticeable gaps” in safety regarding fired vessels on a few offshore oil and gas platforms in the Gulf of Mexico that “warrant attention to prevent or mitigate uncontrolled releases of hydrocarbons, toxic substances or other materials,” according to an agency safety alert issued Oct. 2.

Greenbelt, MD — Law enforcement officials issued more than 57,000 citations and nearly 88,000 warnings during the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s annual Operation Safe Driver Week.

Washington — A leading House Democrat has sent a letter to Secretary of Labor R. Alexander Acosta regarding OSHA’s reported decline in enforcement activities and its current inspector staffing level, among other subjects.

Washington — Two months after Secretary of Labor R. Alexander Acosta touted OSHA’s increased number of inspections, the National Employment Law Project has released new data showing that the agency is coming up short in one measure.

New Orleans — A new approach that allows Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement inspectors to access electronic records onshore will increase their physical inspection time at more than 2,200 offshore oil and gas facilities in the Gulf of Mexico, the agency recently announced.

New Orleans — The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement has introduced a risk-based inspection program intended to improve safety for offshore oil and gas workers.