While there’s been no official announcement yet by President Obama, a number of news sources are naming Thomas E. Perez as the likely nominee to be the next secretary of labor. Perez, 51, is assistant U.S. attorney general for civil rights.

OSHA has issued seven notices of unsafe or unhealthful working conditions found at the Battle Creek Veterans Administration Medical Center, following a safety inspection conducted in July as part of the agency’s Federal Agency Targeting Inspection Program.

OSHA has published a notice confirming the effective date of the direct final rule for OSHA's head protection standards. This final rule updates the incorporation by reference of national consensus standards to include the latest edition of the consensus standard. It updates references in OSHA's standards to recognize the 2009 edition of the American National Standard for Industrial Head Protection, and deletes the 1986 edition of that national consensus standard because it is out of date.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is issuing a Request for Information to initiate the fourth phase of its Standards Improvement Project (SIP). The purpose of SIP-IV is to improve and streamline existing OSHA construction standards by removing or revising requirements that are confusing or outdated, or that duplicate, or are inconsistent with, other standards.

Contractors who do work for the federal government will be under increased scrutiny – and whistleblower protection – thanks to a set of amendments to the National Defense Authorization Act (S. 3254) recently approved by the Senate.

Citing inadequate control over environmental hazards following 9/11, a NY congressman is urging the EPA and Federal Emergency Management Agency to take an active role in making sure people cleaning up after Hurricane Sandy stay safe.

There has been a lot of talk recently about the upcoming “fiscal cliff.” Just what is this “cliff” and how does it impact occupational safety and health? First of all, you need to know that no matter who you are or what you do; the fiscal cliff will impact you and your family. Let’s take a quick look –

Here are the week’s top occupational health and safety stories from www.ISHN.com:

Cintas Corporation (NASDAQ: CTAS) today announced that its uniform rental facility in Searcy, AR has received Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) Merit certification from the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

The American Industrial Hygiene Association® (AIHA) has given the “thumbs up” to recommendations developed by an OSHA committee regarding federal occupational health and safety jobs – particularly those regarding educational requirements.