Regulations/Legislation

Washington – The Office of Management and Budget has completed its review of an OSHA recordkeeping and reporting regulation, paving the way for the agency to publish a final rule.

Washington – The Federal Railroad Administration issued a series of amendments to its requirements for Positive Train Control systems in a final rule published in the Aug. 22 Federal Register.

Falls Church, VA – Legislation proposing to lower the working age in the logging industry is receiving pushback from a worker health organization.

Washington – A proposed rule from the Federal Railroad Administration would expand the scope of alcohol and drug regulations to cover employees who perform maintenance-of-way activities, which include the inspection, installation, repair and maintenance of track or roadbed.

Washington – A rule that aims to reduce miner exposure to harmful coal dust went into effect Aug. 1.

Arlington, VA – Minimum penalties for some mining violations would increase under a proposed rule from the Mine Safety and Health Administration.

Washington – The Department of Transportation has announced a notice of proposed rulemaking intended to improve safe rail transportation of crude oil, ethanol and other flammable materials.

Washington – Three Democratic senators are seeking to criminalize the concealment of corporate actions or products that could pose a threat of death or serious injury to workers and consumers.

Washington – Truck drivers who use laptops, tablets or smartphones to update their records of duty status no longer will have to print and sign paper copies of the documents, according to new regulatory guidance from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

Washington – The Office of Management and Budget is reviewing a controversial U.S. Department of Agriculture final rule that would speed up poultry-processing lines, a move safety advocates warn could lead to more worker injuries.