Labor Division

RSS

Washington — Secretary of Labor R. Alexander Acosta touted the number of annual OSHA inspections conducted over the past two fiscal years – despite the agency being short-staffed – during an April 3 congressional appropriations hearing, saying he expects an increase when recently hired inspectors get fully up to speed.

Washington — OSHA has not established adequate procedures for issuing guidance documents and often has not followed the procedures it created, according to a Department of Labor Office of Inspector General audit report released March 28.

Washington — The work of standards-developing organizations is an integral part of “protecting the safety and health of workers, the public and the environment,” the Chemical Safety Board says in its most recent “Safety Spotlight” publication.

Morgantown, WV — Two potentially hazardous chemicals are missing from the Safety Data Sheets for bulk liquid flavorings, findings from a recent NIOSH Respiratory Health Division study show.

Washington — A recent analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics data highlights findings from a quarter century (1992-2016) of labor market data.

Washington — OSHA recently released a video highlighting the importance of soil classification when planning trenching and excavation work.

Arlington, VA — The Mine Safety and Health Administration is extending to Sept. 25, 2020, the deadline for a Request for Information on ways to monitor and regulate miner exposure to diesel exhaust in underground mines.

Washington — OSHA, NIOSH and a number of safety organizations – including the National Safety Council – are teaming up for the third annual Safe + Sound Week, set for Aug. 12-18.

Iowa City, IA — A NIOSH-funded study of farm machinery found that the machine operators experienced whole-body vibration at levels that reached the European Union’s “action level” for exposure limit within two hours of operation on nearly 30 percent of the equipment tested.