The U.S. Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration announced that an Administrative Law Judge with the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission has ruled in favor of MSHA in a legal challenge filed last June by Massey Energy’s Performance Coal Co, according to an MSHA press release. The company had challenged MSHA’s protocol guidelines in the underground accident investigation of the Upper Big Branch Mine, in which the agency prohibited Massey Energy investigators from using cameras, collecting evidence, mapping and conducting sampling. In her ruling, ALJ Margaret A. Miller held that MSHA did not abuse its discretion in adopting the protocols and that the protocols "are rationally connected to safely conducting the accident investigation."
The American Public Health Association (APHA) sent a letter to House Committee on Education and Labor Chairman George Miller this week urging the House to pass the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act that would bring the nation one step closer to improving nutrition and promoting physical activity and wellness for millions of children across the country, according to a press release. APHA strongly encourages the House to pass the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act before the legislation expires on Sept. 30.
The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration announced in a recent press release that today the Federal Register is expected to publish an emergency temporary standard that revises the existing federal standard on maintenance of incombustible content of rock dust. The determination to create an ETS was based on MSHA's review of accident investigation reports of mine explosions in intake air courses that involved coal dust, as well as the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health’s report “Recommendations for a New Rock Dusting Standard to Prevent Coal Dust Explosions in Intake Airways,” which can be viewed at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/mining/pubs/pubreference/outputid2825.htm .
OSHA has awarded $2.75 million in Susan Harwood Targeted Topic Training Grants to 16 organizations, including nonprofit and community/faith-based groups, employer associations, labor unions, joint labor/management associations, and colleges and universities, an agency press release states.
The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration has announced in a press release that, from April through August, the agency conducted "impact inspections" at 111 coal and metal/nonmetal mines throughout the country designated by the agency as having safety or health issues. During that time, enforcement personnel issued 2,660 violations, 45 percent of which were classified as significant and substantial. These targeted inspections are part of an aggressive enforcement strategy launched in the wake of the worst mining disaster in almost 40 years.
Because motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of worker fatalities, Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis has announced a partnership between the OSHA and the U.S. Department of Transportation to combat distracted driving, according to an OSHA press release.
OSHA has cited Columbia Forest Products Inc. for 15 alleged willful and serious violations of workplace safety standards following the March 22 death of a worker at the company's mill in Presque Isle, Maine, an agency press release says.
This year during Pollution Prevention Week, September 19-25, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency marks the 20th anniversary of the Pollution Prevention Act of 1990, according to an EPA press release. The act laid the groundwork for reducing pollution at its source and protecting children and families from exposure to harmful pollutants, as well as significantly reducing the amount of contaminants released into the environment. EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson is urging the public to recommit to the goal of pollution prevention in their everyday lives.
CSB Chairperson and CEO Rafael Moure-Eraso announced in a recent press release a major realignment of the agency’s internal organization, including creation of a new position of managing director who will report to the chair and will oversee all aspects of CSB operations, including investigations, studies, recommendations, incident selection, Congressional and public affairs, financial operations, human resources, information technology and administration.
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