May 20, 2009

U.S. Labor Departments OSHA strengthens integrity of Outreach Training Program

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), in an effort to crack down on fraudulent trainers, is strengthening the integrity of its 36-year-old Outreach Training Program by improving how trainers become authorized to teach and ensuring these trainers are in compliance with OSHA program guidelines.

April 29, 2009

U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis commemorates Worker Memorial Day at National Labor Colleges monument ceremony

WASHINGTON – During a groundbreaking ceremony for a workers memorial monument held today at the National Labor College in Silver Spring, Md., Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis paid tribute to the men and women who have lost their lives on the job.

April 29, 2009

U.S. Department of Labors OSHA announces rulemaking on combustible dust hazards

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is initiating a comprehensive rulemaking on combustible dust.

OSHA will issue an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and convene related stakeholder meetings to evaluate possible regulatory methods, and request data and comments on issues related to combustible dust such as hazard recognition, assessment, communication, defining combustible dust and other concerns.

April 29, 2009

U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis announces convening of rulemaking panel on worker exposure to food flavorings containing diacetyl

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today announced that the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) will convene a Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act (SBREFA) panel May 5 on a draft proposed rule on occupational exposure to diacetyl and food flavorings containing diacetyl.

April 7, 2009

U.S. Labor Departments OSHA orders Southern Air Inc. to withdraw retaliatory lawsuit and pay more than $7.9 million to 9 whistleblowers

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has ordered Southern Air Inc., a Norwalk, Conn.-based air cargo carrier, to withdraw a lawsuit it filed against nine former employees and pay them more than $7.9 million in wages, damages and legal fees.

March 31, 2009

U.S. Department of Labors OSHA revises Field Operations Manual to enhance enforcement and compliance assistance

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has revised its Field Operations Manual to provide OSHA compliance officers with a single comprehensive resource of updated guidance in implementing the agency's mission to more effectively protect employees from occupational injuries, illnesses and fatalities.

March 16, 2009

U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis takes action to prevent workers exposure to food flavorings chemical

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today announced the withdrawal of an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) for occupational exposure to food flavorings containing diacetyl.

The withdrawal will facilitate the Labor Department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) timely development of a standard to protect workers from bronchiolitis obliterans, a serious and potentially fatal lung disease associated with such an exposure.

February 25, 2009

U.S. Department of Labors OSHA cites Bloomer, Wis., excavator after inspector witnesses dangerous safety violations during trenching job

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited A-1 Excavating Inc., Bloomer, Wis., for alleged willful violations of federal workplace safety standards, proposing nearly $700,000 in penalties for numerous life-threatening violations at a trenching operation in Weston, Wis.

February 25, 2009

U.S. Department of Labors OSHA proposes more than $1.2 million penalty to St. Louis area chemical repackaging and distribution company

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited St. Louis, Mo.-based G.S. Robins & Co., doing business as Ro-Corp Inc., for alleged willful, repeat and serious violations of federal workplace safety standards, proposing more than $1.2 million in penalties for numerous violations relating to the handling of hazardous chemicals at the company's facility in East St. Louis.

January 29, 2009

U.S. Department of Labors OSHA announces informal public hearing on proposed cranes and derricks standards in construction

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) will hold an informal public hearing on the proposed cranes and derricks in construction standard published in the Oct. 9, 2008, edition of the Federal Register (73 FR 59713).

The hearing will be held beginning March 17 at 10 a.m. EST in the auditorium on the plaza level of the Frances Perkins Building, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Ave. N.W., Washington, D.C.

January 16, 2009

U.S. Labor Departments OSHA to publish proposed rule on occupational exposure to diacetyl and food flavorings containing diacetyl

WASHINGTON – The Jan. 21 edition of the Federal Register will contain a U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on occupational exposure to diacetyl and food flavorings containing diacetyl.

January 9, 2009

U.S. Department of Labors OSHA revises its Voluntary Protection Programs

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) today published in the Federal Register final changes to its Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP) that, among other enhancements, allow participation by companies with mobile workforces.