Regulations/Legislation

Washington – The House of Representatives on Jan. 4 passed the Midnight Rules Relief Act of 2017 in an effort to stop President Barack Obama and his administration from pushing new regulations at the end of their term.

OSHA’s final rule on occupational exposure to beryllium is scheduled for publication in January, according to the Department of Labor’s fall regulatory agenda, released Nov. 17.

Washington – A bill intended to improve training for workers who engage in emergency response to rail incidents involving hazardous materials was approved by the House on Nov. 29.

Washington – Asbestos is one of the first 10 chemicals to be evaluated for potential health and environmental risks under the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act, the Environmental Protection Agency announced on Nov. 29.

Washington – The deadline for individuals and organizations to submit comments on a proposed rule requiring speed-limiting devices on large trucks and buses has been pushed back to Dec. 7, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recently announced.

Sacramento, CA – Regulations intended to protect California’s health care workers from workplace violence have been unanimously approved by the state’s Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board.

Washington – A bill introduced by Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) would require airlines to provide flight attendants with at least 10 hours off between work shifts.

Washington – Labor regulations issued during the Obama administration’s final year create a “significant burden” on industries and workers, and will lead to about $80 billion in compliance costs over the next decade, according to a recent report from the National Association of Manufacturers.

Washington – The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration and the Federal Railroad Administration are accepting comment until Sept. 27 on a proposed rule that would expand the parameters for railroads to develop oil spill response plans for incidents involving high-hazard flammable trains.