November 15, 2026

Mirika Rayaprolu

Mirika Rayaprolu was a reporter with Inside Washington until June 2025.

Archived Articles

ExxonMobil is asking the 5th Circuit to vacate an administrative law judge’s (ALJ) findings of improper recordkeeping for failing to properly log work-related mental illnesses following a 2021 accident at the company's Texas facility, in a case that could test OSHA policies governing which medical professionals are qualified to make such determinations.

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A coalition of safety organizations is urging OSHA and employers to go beyond legal requirements and implement robust environmental, health and safety (EHS) practices, emphasizing that proactive risk mitigation not only enhances worker safety but also boosts productivity and contributes to economic growth.

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Senate Democrats are raising concerns over whether the Trump administration will provide adequate funding for OSHA, given prior Republican lawmakers’ attempts to slash the agency’s budget, pressing Keith Sonderling on the issue at his confirmation hearing to be Labor Department (DOL) deputy secretary.

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Chemical distributors are urging the Labor Department to roll back two Biden-era OSHA regulations and drop plans for finalizing two proposed rules, arguing they impose excessive compliance costs without improving worker safety and meet the requirements in a recent executive order aimed at reducing regulatory burdens.

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House Democrats are pressing the Health and Human Services Department (HHS) for details on staffing cuts and funding holds at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) to evaluate how these cuts may affect the agency’s role in supporting worker safety and compensation programs.

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A newly published article by former OSHA official David Michaels highlights how newly available OSHA injury data can identify predictable risks, offering opportunities to improve safety standards, reduce workplace injuries, and prevent future harm by implementing more targeted and effective injury prevention strategies.

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The newly formed Chlor-Vinyl Industry Alliance is spearheading efforts to engage downstream users of vinyl chloride in EPA’s upcoming TSCA risk evaluation of the chemical as part of an effort to provide what it says is vital scientific and industry expertise to the agency, including on worker exposure.

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Occupational exposure scientists are building on early data documenting construction painters’ exposure to PFAS with additional research aimed at developing a plan for reducing PFAS exposure and body burden for construction trades.

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A federal district court has granted OSHA’s request to dismiss a California road district’s challenge to a controversial 2020 scaffolding policy, finding the district lacks standing to sue because it cannot demonstrate it was harmed by the policy.

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Legal experts are urging companies to ensure their nondisclosure agreements (NDAs) comply with a key federal whistleblower protection law, warning that failure to do so could result in additional charges or penalties in federal antitrust cases.

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