EHS News

The United Auto Workers Union (UAW) revived a petition first made to the U.S. Occupational Safety & Health Administration in October of 1993, calling last week for a immediate action to promulgate a comprehensive standard for occupational exposure to metal-working fluids (MWF).  The new effort is based on what the UAW says is new scientific evidence for respiratory disease and cancer allegedly caused by exposure to metalworking fluids under prevailing conditions, as well as new knowledge regarding microbial growth and exposure control measures.

OSHA requests information and comment on occupational exposure to infectious agents in settings where healthcare is provided, (e.g., hospitals, outpatient clinics, clinics in schools and correctional facilities), and healthcare-related settings (e.g., laboratories that handle potentially infectious biological materials, medical examiner offices and mortuaries). OSHA is interested in strategies that are being used in such healthcare and other healthcare-related work settings to mitigate the risk of occupationally-acquired infectious diseases.

Responding to an Active Shooter Situation-- Guidance from the Department of Homeland Security

OSHA invites interested parties to participate in informal stakeholder meetings on Injury and Illness Prevention Programs, referred to as ``I2P2.'' OSHA plans to use the information gathered at these meetings in developing an Injury and Illness Prevention Program proposed rule. The discussions will be informal and will provide the Agency with the necessary information to develop a rule that will help employers reduce workplace injuries and illnesses through a systematic process that proactively addresses workplace safety and health hazards.

On April 26, the Department of Labor's semiannual unified agenda was made available online at  www.dol.gov/asp/regs/agenda.htm and at www.regulations.gov.

In an April 22, 2010 memorandum to OSHA Regional Administrators, Assistant Secretary for Occupational Safety and Health David Michaels outlined "Administrative Enhancements to OSHA's Penalty Policies."  These administrative enhancements will become effective over the next several months, allowing affected OSHA personnel to become familiar with the changes and receive training. OSHA is also focusing on outreach in preparation for implementing the new penalty policy.

The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration is implementing a new Severe Violator Enforcement Program (SVEP).

The heads of five agencies of the U.S. Department of Labor will host live Web chats - open to the public and members of the press - to discuss their respective regulatory agendas. The Labor Department's entire regulatory agenda is scheduled for publication in the April 26 issue of the Federal Register.

The final count of fatal work injuries in the U.S. in 2008 was 5,214, up from the preliminary count of 5,071 reported in August 2009. The final 2008 total was the lowest annual total since the fatality census was first conducted in 1992. As a result of the updates, the overall 2008 fatal work injury rate for the U.S. rose slightly from 3.6 per 100,000 full-time equivalent workers to 3.7 per 100,000.