Chemical Safety

NIOSH is extending the public comment period on the draft document, “Criteria for a Recommended Standard: Occupational Exposure to Diacetyl and 2,3-pentanedione" to Friday, November 18, 2011.  Written comments were to be received by October 14, 2011. NIOSH received requests to extend the comment period to permit the public more time to gather and submit information.

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) announced in the Federal Register (25 August 2011) that it is considering whether changes are needed to the regulations governing the safety of gas transmission pipelines. In particular, PHMSA is considering whether integrity management (IM) requirements should be changed, including adding more prescriptive language in some areas, and whether other issues related to system integrity should be addressed by strengthening or expanding non-IM requirements.

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) published a notice of proposed rulemaking in the 12 August 2011 Federal Register.  PHMSA in coordination with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), is proposing to amend requirements in the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR) governing the transportation of Class 7 (radioactive) materials based on recent changes contained in the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) publication ‘‘Regulations for the Safe Transport of Radioactive Material, 2009 Edition, IAEA Safety Standards Series No.

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) published a final rule in the July 20, 2011 Federal Register that amends the Hazardous Materials Regulations.  The final rule makes miscellaneous amendments to update and clarify certain regulatory requirements. These amendments are intended to: promote safer transportation practices; eliminate unnecessary regulatory requirements; finalize outstanding petitions for rulemaking; facilitate international commerce; and simplify the regulations.

On June 2, 2011 the Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued a new directive establishing a National Emphasis Program for the Primary Metal Industries. The purpose of the NEP is to identify and reduce or eliminate worker exposures to harmful chemical and physical hazards in establishments producing metal products.

In the April 29, 2011 Federal Register, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) issued a Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM)  to restrict the use of hand-held mobile telephones, including hand-held cell phones, by drivers during the operation of a motor vehicle containing a quantity of hazardous materials requiring placarding under Part 172 of 49 CFR or any quantity of a select agent or toxin listed in 42 CFR Part 73.

Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) on April 14 introduced once again a bill intended to overhaul the Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976. Lautenberg, who chairs the Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Superfund, Toxics, and Environmental Health, introduced a similar bill (S.

In the March 11, 2011 Federal Register, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) published a proposed rule that would protect the public by improving the safe transfer of hazardous materials to and from cargo tank motor vehicles. The proposed rule would require additional training for employees and new safety requirements for motor carriers and facilities that transfer hazardous materials to and from cargo tank motor vehicles.