Regulations/Legislation

Washington – The Senate on Dec. 17 passed legislation that would reform the nation’s chemical safety laws by requiring the Environmental Protection Agency to make decisions based on how chemicals affect workers and other individuals.

Silver Spring, MD – A group of lawmakers has reintroduced legislation intended to protect nurses and health care workers against musculoskeletal disorders caused by manually lifting patients.

Trenton, NJ – Several New Jersey lawmakers have proposed legislation to help safeguard child protection workers from violent encounters.

Washington – Immigrant workers who report unsafe or unfair work practices would become eligible for a type of visa reserved for victims of criminal activity, under legislation recently reintroduced by House Democrats.

Washington – A majority of senators are opposed to a federal mandate that would permit longer, heavier trucks to operate in every state.

Washington – Railroads would have until the end of 2018 to implement Positive Train Control technologies as part of legislation approved Oct. 27 by the House of Representatives and Oct. 28 by the Senate.

This time next year, the nation will be electing a new president, who could move OSHA in a different direction. What can the agency accomplish in the remaining months of the Obama administration? OSHA-watchers weigh in.

Washington – Three new bills that would add requirements to the regulatory process recently advanced through a GOP-led Senate committee.

Washington – A year ago, three U.S. senators introduced a bill that would have made it a crime for corporate officers to conceal an action or product that could cause harm to workers or consumers.

Sacramento, CA – A new law in California will require at least two operators on every freight train traveling through the state.