NIOSH Workplace Evaluation Program Broadened Under Last-Minute Addition To Mine Bill

A NIOSH workplace evaluation program would be significantly expanded in scope under a provision added to the mine bill prior to its passage by the House labor committee last week, allowing physicians, former employees, and possibly OSHA inspectors to request such evaluations for the first time. The provision also formally expands the types of hazards that can be addressed to include non-toxic hazards, such as musculoskeletal disorders, NIOSH chief John Howard told Inside OSHA. Howard, who previously said that NIOSH was exploring legislative options for improving the Health Hazard Evaluation (H