The agency remains in a state of flux as of mid-October. Scott Mugno, the nominee to be OSHA’s top boss, still has not been confirmed. The chief of staff position is vacant. There are no senior advisors. One of two deputies is missing. Four regional administrators are in temporary “acting” roles. 

BP faces potentially billions in penalties for Deepwater Horizon explosion, PG&E faces actual billions in penalties for San Bruno pipeline explosion and firefighters helping with an “Ice Bucket Challenge” are serious burned by an arc flash incident. These were among the top EHS-related stories posted this week on ISHN.com.

VPP problems, the NTSB’s “Ten Most Wanted” and water woes in West Virginia were among this week’s most-read EHS-related stories on ISHN.com:

OSHA’s Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP) have come under fire from the Labor Department’s Office of Inspector General, which says the agency fails to ensure that only safe worksites remain in the program.

A directive issued recently by OSHA chief Dr. David Michaels addresses an issue that’s been brewing over the past few years: fatalities in workplaces that have been granted VPP status.

A packed assembly room at the AIHce was treated to a conversation between OSHA boss Dr. David Michaels and a former OSHA chief, John Henshaw, who headed OSHA during the Bush II administration. Here are some takeaways from Dr. Michaels’ comments: