Regulations/Legislation

Washington — House Education and Labor Committee Chair Bobby Scott (D-VA) and 20 other representatives are sponsoring a partisan bill that would require OSHA to issue an emergency temporary standard for health care facilities to implement comprehensive infectious disease exposure control plans.

Washington — Public Citizen will not appeal the second dismissal of its lawsuit against President Donald Trump’s “2-for-1” deregulatory Executive Order, a spokesperson for the watchdog group told Safety+Health Jan. 16.

Washington — The House Education and Labor Committee approved an amended version of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (H.R. 2694) in a markup Jan. 14.

Washington — The Department of Labor has withdrawn its proposal to allow 16- and 17-year-olds to operate powered patient lifts in hospitals, nursing homes or other long-term care facilities, according to DOL’s regulatory agenda for Fall 2019 – released Nov. 20.

Washington — The Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Services Workers Act (H.R. 1309) passed out of the House Nov. 21 by a 251-159 vote.

Washington — To help small-business owners understand their role in the federal rulemaking process – including rules on worker safety and health – the Small Business Administration’s Office of Advocacy has published a guide.

Washington — The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act would close loopholes to provide the reasonable accommodations needed by employees “whose ability to perform the functions of a job are limited by pregnancy, childbirth or a related medical condition,” supporters of the legislation contended during an Oct. 22 House hearing.

Washington — Commercial motor vehicle drivers are no longer officially required to take a weekly break of at least 34 consecutive hours, including two breaks between 1 and 5 a.m., to comply with Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration hours-of-service regulations, under a new final rule.

Washington — Automatic emergency braking would be a standard feature on all new commercial motor vehicles, including large trucks, under legislation introduced in July by Reps. Jesús “Chuy” García (D-IL) and Hank Johnson (D-GA).