President Obama has officially announced his intent to nominate Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius as Secretary of Health and Human Services, according to the White House. Sebelius will oversee a department with wide-ranging responsibilities, including the implementation of the President's vision for health care. As secretary of health and human services, “Sebelius will work with Democrats and Republicans alike to cut costs, expand access, and improve the quality of health care for all Americans,” according to the White House.
Last week U.S. Senator Richard Burr (R-NC), along with U.S. Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA), introduced the Select Agent Program and Biosafety Improvement Act of 2009, to improve the country’s approach to biosecurity by reauthorizing the Select Agent Program and enhancing the safety of biological research laboratories.
OSHA has cited Great Lakes Sauerkraut Co. LLC with $41,400 in proposed fines following inspections conducted under OSHA's Site Specific Targeting Plan. The agency cited the Shortsville, N.Y., sauerkraut maker with 16 alleged serious violations of safety and health standards at its manufacturing facility.
EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson announced yesterday a new initiative to further measure levels of toxic air pollution near many schools across the country for better protection, according to an agency statement. EPA and its state partners will prioritize and monitor schools for more extensive air quality analysis, looking closely at schools located near large industries and in urban areas.
The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) has issued a report indicating the majority of workers who blow the whistle and complain to OSHA about unsafe workplaces or work processes are left hanging without protection against reprisals from their employers.
Due to the growing national emphasis on green energy development and the potential risks involved in green energy-related construction operations, the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) recently announced a new A10 Accredited Standards Committee (ASC) standard project to protect the safety and health of workers involved in construction and demolition operations for wind generation/turbine facilities, the “American National Standard for the Safe Construction and Demolition of Wind Generation/Turbine Facilities” (A10.21-20xx).
OSHA has cited Blackstone Business Enterprises Inc. of Jamestown, N.Y., for 18 alleged willful and serious violations of OSHA standards for failing to protect contract employees against asbestos hazards, according to an agency statement.
OSHA is proposing $192,350 in penalties after an inspection at NTN-Bower's manufacturing plant in Hamilton, Ala., revealed 36 alleged safety and health violations, according to an agency statement.
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