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Washington – T.F. Scott Darling III was confirmed by the Senate as administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration on July 14, nearly two years after becoming acting administrator.

Washington – The rail industry has no reason not to exceed a government-imposed deadline for key safety improvements to rail tank cars that transport flammable liquids, Robert Sumwalt, a member of the National Transportation Safety Board, said July 13 during an NTSB roundtable discussion.

Washington – A wide-ranging spending bill that proposes to cut funding for Department of Labor agencies – including OSHA – is difficult but necessary, House Appropriations Committee Chairman Hal Rogers (R-KY) said July 13 during a full committee markup of the Fiscal Year 2017 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education funding bill.

Washington – The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has proposed to develop and implement a trial program that would exclude non-preventable crashes from motor carriers’ safety records.

Washington – NIOSH is seeking feedback on improving workplace safety and health for health care and social assistance sector workers, as part of the National Occupational Research Agenda.

Washington – The Office of Compliance’s Office of General Counsel expects to conduct more safety inspections of legislative-branch workplaces during the 114th Congress than it did during the previous Congress, according to OOC’s annual report for fiscal year 2015.

Washington – OSHA’s budget would decrease by $18.4 million in fiscal 2017 as part of a draft bill released by the House Appropriations Committee.

Washington – The “deterrent effect” of OSHA fines takes a hit when the agency reduces penalties in cases involving willful violations and worker deaths – and OSHA too often agrees to reduce fines in exchange for an employer’s promise to quickly abate hazards, according to a report released June 30 by the Center for Progressive Reform.

Atlanta – Strategies for preventing worker suicide are needed, researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention claim in a new report detailing the rates of self-inflicted death among U.S. workers.

Washington – Two new fact sheets from OSHA provide information intended to protect workers from combustible dust explosion hazards and agricultural emergencies.