Report: OSHA needs better metrics to measure its success
A new report says OSHA lacks sufficient metrics to determine how well it’s carrying out its mission of protecting the safety and health of workers.
Mining
Workplace deaths increase by 2%: 4,679 killed in one year
The number of workplace deaths increased by 2% from 2013 to 2014, according to the federal government. A preliminary total of 4,679 work fatalities were reported in the U.S. in 2014.
NSC: Employers should go beyond OSHA’s PELs
Add another voice to the chorus calling for companies to use the latest science and not just OSHA’s limits when it comes to protecting workers from hazardous chemicals.
Owners, managers, companies face more criminal charges for safety lapses
OSHA has been referring more cases for criminal prosecution. Three recent cases show what types of charges that owners, managers and companies face.
Will settlement in exposure limit case lead to more enforcement?
OSHA watchers have had their eyes on a case from last fall in which the agency used an industry exposure limit instead of one of its own to fine a company. Now the company has settled with OSHA. What does this mean for other employers?
Web page maps worker fatalities around the world
The current trend of “data journalism” on the internet increasingly uses maps to present various statistics pictorially. A new, student-run project based in the U.S. provides a visual representation of worker fatalities and injuries across the globe.
Day to remember and plan ahead
April 28 is Workers’ Memorial Day. It’s a time to remember workers who have lost their lives on the job due to injuries or illnesses, but it’s also more.
Will cuts to OSHA assistance cause problems down the road?
Under sequestration, the Department of Labor (DOL) cut OSHA’s employer assistance budget so that compliance inspections could be maintained near current levels. Business advocates questioned that strategy. A new report shows DOL isn’t sure it was a good idea either.
Were silica and other OSHA rules delayed by politics?
Two recent reports say the White House delayed various federal rules because of concerns about their impact during the 2012 presidential campaign. Whatever caused the regulatory logjam in 2012, there are signs it’s now broken. That means more new regulations for businesses.
