Democrats accuse small GOP cadre of blocking budget conference
Senate Democrats intensified their pressure on GOP leaders to scrap their opposition to naming conferees to joint House-Senate budget talks, citing on Wednesday (May 22) a growing chorus of Republican senators who say the Senate should move forward on a conference to return the budget process to regular order.
Labor secretary appoints members of construction advisory panel
Acting Labor Secretary Seth Harris on Wednesday (May 15) announced the appointment of two new members and re-appointment of six current members to the Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and Health. They will serve two-year . . .
Congressional investigators: Aviation agency has 'mechanisms' to respond to work hazards
A new report from Congress' investigative arm concludes that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has mechanisms in place to address work hazards identified in inspections. The report to lawmakers with FAA jurisdiction, issued by the . . .
Perez nomination hits snag as GOP blocks committee vote
Senate Republicans have temporarily blocked committee consideration of Labor secretary nominee Thomas Perez, citing controversy over his record as a local government official and later as U.S. assistant attorney general for civil rights. The move . . .
OSHA To Maintain Heat Illness, Fall Protection Campaigns Despite Budget Constraints
OSHA intends to press on with two of its key outreach and education campaigns -- preventing heat illness and promoting fall protection measures -- even though the agency is faced with an increasingly tight budget and difficult decisions about where to allocate funds, agency chief David Michaels said Thursday (May 23).
Critics: OSHA Should Spend Training Dollars On Private Sector Rather Than Federal Workers
OSHA is reaching out to agencies across the federal government in an effort to train staffers who are responsible for federal workers' safety and health, rolling out a range of training programs in areas including ergonomics, fall protection, hearing conservation, confined spaces, and distracted driving.
House Appropriators Clear Cuts To Labor-HHS Funding, Reject Dems' Sequester Replacement
House appropriators on Tuesday (May 21) approved top-line spending amounts for each of 12 appropriations bills for fiscal 2014 -- including a 22 percent cut to Labor, HHS and Education funding -- while also rejecting a Democratic proposal to replace the across-the-board sequestration cuts.
Lawmaker Asks If OSHA Linked To IRS 'Targeting,' Cites Inspection Of Tea Party Activist's Company
OSHA has become entangled in a congressional probe of the IRS and what critics describe as the tax agency's “targeting” of conservative groups in its review of requests for tax-exempt status, with one Republican lawmaker questioning why OSHA inspected the business of a tea party organizer in Texas not long after she filed such an application with the IRS.
Texas Blast Shows Need To Move Ahead On Program Rule, Safety Engineers Tell Obama
A key occupational safety group has taken its case directly to President Obama that OSHA should move forward on issuing a proposed injury and illness prevention program rule (I2P2), citing the recent disastrous explosion in West, TX, as demonstrating the need for workplaces to have comprehensive safety and health programs.
Policy Group Floats Concept Of Independent Commission To Review Regs
A Washington think tank focused on progressive policies in the vein of “New Democrats” has issued a policy memo backing the creation of an independent commission to review federal regulations in an effort to cut unnecessary red tape and costs to business.
Worker Advocates Call For Revisiting General-Duty Enforcement Policy After Fatality Report
Worker safety and health advocates are pressing OSHA to revisit its enforcement guidelines for pursuing cases under the OSH Act general duty clause, citing high numbers of incidents in areas where the agency may not have specific standards but where they say OSHA has an obligation to act.
Industrial Hygienists, Air Quality Group Sign MOU On Practitioner Registry
The American Industrial Hygiene Association, the Indoor Air Quality Association and AIHA Registry Programs LLC on May 20 signed a memorandum of understanding to lead the way toward joint development of a registry for qualified . . .
OSHA Seeks Training Grant Applications
OSHA is soliciting applications under the Susan Harwood Training Grant Program, through which a total of $1.5 million is available to nonprofit, community and faith-based organizations, employer associations, labor unions, joint labor/management associations, and colleges . . .
NIOSH Issues Guide To Firefighter Hearing Health
NIOSH recommends measures to promote better hearing health among firefighters through the use of quieter equipment, better work practices, hearing protection devices, and implementation of effective hearing loss prevention programs. Exposure to high noise levels . . .
Obama: Administration 'Committed' To OSH Enforcement
President Obama issued a proclamation officially designating April 28, 2013 as Workers Memorial Day, saying his administration "remains committed" to enforcing occupational safety and health laws "by ensuring workers know their rights, worksites comply with . . .
