Citizen Health & Safety / Workplace Safety
Labor Pushing Proactive Agenda during a Dark Time for Workers
Apr 29, 2010 by Matthew Madia
It doesn’t seem like a very safe time to be an American worker. Yesterday was Workers Memorial Day, and the news is filled with stories about why such a day is necessary. Seth Harris, Deputy Secretary of the Labor Department, called it a “somber time” in an event today at the Center for American Progress.
read in fullWhat's Next for Coal Mine Safety?
Apr 20, 2010
In the wake of the latest coal mining disaster that killed 29 miners at the Upper Big Branch Mine in West Virginia, calls for safety reforms and enhanced regulatory powers echo once again. While mine safety has improved since the recent high death toll of 2006, it remains to be seen if this incident will result in significant changes or if deaths and injuries will continue to be perceived as a cost of doing business.
Obama Calls for Review of Mine Safety Policy
Apr 15, 2010 by Matthew Madia
In reaction to the West Virginia explosion that left 29 miners dead, President Obama called today for reform of mine safety laws and regulations and better enforcement of those regulations by the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA). His remarks are available on the White House website.
read in fullOSHA Proposal Cuts Workers' Right to Know about Chemical Risks
Mar 23, 2010
A recent proposal by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) would endanger workers by reducing the amount of information on chemical hazards provided to them, according to several public interest groups. OSHA's proposal is part of its effort to make its Hazard Communication Standard conform to a United Nations system for classifying chemicals. The effort has been criticized by several public interest groups who view portions of it as an unnecessary contraction of workers' right to know and as contrary to the rhetoric of transparency and movement toward greater disclosure seen elsewhere in the Obama administration.
read in fullModernizing the Occupational Safety and Health Act
Mar 23, 2010
On March 16, a House subcommittee held a hearing on proposed legislation to modernize the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act). The House bill, the Protecting America's Workers Act (PAWA), would update civil and criminal penalties and provide enhanced protection to workers who report unsafe working conditions.
read in fullA Look at Regulatory Agencies in Obama’s Frugal Budget
Feb 3, 2010 by Matthew Madia
The Office of Management and Budget unveiled President Obama’s FY 2011 budget request on Monday. Obama has decided to propose a spending freeze for discretionary, non-defense budget items. (See OMB Watch’s statement here.) Because Obama has proposed an overall freeze and not a line-item-by-line-item freeze, spending could be transferred to other areas to reflect administration priorities.
read in fullMSHA Outlines Policy, Regulatory Agenda
Dec 8, 2009
The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) began outlining its agenda for protecting workers with the announcement of a comprehensive plan to end black lung disease and the publication of its regulatory plan. MSHA had been headed by acting administrators during the last years of the Bush administration and has been slow to address many safety issues after a series of mine accidents and increased incidence of debilitating disease.
read in fullMidnight Regulations Roundup
Dec 4, 2009 by Matthew Madia
The Obama administration continues to chip away at the Bush administration’s midnight regulations campaign. Obama agencies took action on two more Bush-era midnight regulations this week and a third last week.
read in fullSenate Confirms Michaels for OSHA
Dec 4, 2009 by Matthew Madia
Last night, the Senate confirmed David Michaels as head of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). President Obama nominated Michaels on Aug. 5; the course of his nomination was rocky at times.
read in fullOSHA Misses Injuries and Illnesses, GAO Says
Nov 24, 2009
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cannot adequately verify lost-time injury and illness cases reported by employers, according to the Government Accountability Office (GAO). Although injury and illness rates for workers have been declining in recent years, critics say the improvement has more to do with OSHA data collection procedures than occupational safety and health policy.
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