The continuing sluggish economy is forcing a growing number of large U.S. employers to take more aggressive measures to control rising health care costs and motivate workers to take charge of improving their own health, according to a survey conducted by Towers Watson, a global professional services company, and the National Business Group on Health (NBGH), a non-profit association of large U.S. employers.
OSHA has cited two contractors responsible for the rehabilitation and painting of a municipal water tower in Epping, N.H., for alleged violations of safety standards following the Aug. 7, 2009, death of a worker who fell 90 feet from the tower, according to an agency press release.
The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB) announced in a press release that it is publishing two related requests for information (RFIs) from the public in advance of developing reports to Congress and the president. One RFI seeks information on goods produced in foreign countries by child labor, forced labor, and/or forced or indentured child labor. The other focuses on certain countries' efforts to implement their international commitments to eliminate the worst forms of child labor. Notices of the RFIs will appear in the Feb. 24 edition of the Federal Register.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) are evaluating the feasibility of developing renewable energy production on Superfund, brownfields, and former landfill or mining sites, according to an EPA press release.
For the first time, the agency is allowing the public to look at establishment or industry-specific injury and illness data. The workplace injury and illness data is available at www.osha.gov/pls/odi/establishment_search.html
OSHA boss Dr. David Michaels has had few opportunities so far (he arrived at the agency December 9) to publicly articulate his plans. There have been no press conferences, one on one interviews, congressional testimony, and but a handful of speeches.
The growth of OSHA’s Voluntary Protection Program has been one of the most dynamic job safety and health stories in recent years. Founded during the Reagan administration in 1982, VPP dawdled along largely off the radar screen until the mid-1990s. From ’82 to ’94, the number of federal and state plan VPP worksites increased from 11 to 180.
Currently 22 states and jurisdictions operate complete occupational safety and health state plans (covering both the private sector and state and local government employees) and five - Connecticut, Illinois, New Jersey, New York and the Virgin Islands - cover public employees only.
Hilda Solis was confirmed as Secretary of Labor almost one year ago to the day, February 24, 2009. Her boss, President Obama is now widely criticized and questioned in the press as an indecisive leader.
RSS