A three-judge panel of the 4th Circuit appeared highly skeptical at recent oral argument of South Carolina’s effort to reinstate litigation challenging OSHA’s authority to require states to match annual increases to federal OSH Act penalties, questioning in part whether the state is making new arguments on appeal.

A three-judge panel of the 4th Circuit appeared highly skeptical at recent oral argument of South Carolina’s effort to reinstate litigation challenging OSHA’s authority to require states to match annual increases to federal OSH Act penalties, questioning in part whether the state is making new arguments on appeal.

The White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has begun reviewing proposed changes to a Biden-era rule that set first-time respirable crystalline silica standards for coal mines and halved a prior limit for other types of mines, although it remains uncertain how the Trump administration may seek to change the limits.

EPA’s final TSCA risk evaluation of 1,2-dichloroethane (1,2-DCA), a key ingredient in polyvinyl chloride (PVC), finds 15 occupational uses of the chemical pose unreasonable risk that must be regulated -- potentially at levels more stringent than OSHA.

Employer attorneys are finding both beneficial and potentially troublesome changes to California OSHA’s (Cal/OSHA) proposed workplace violence-prevention standard, including narrowing the breadth of certain situations requiring action by employers but expanding compliance obligations for employer-provided transportation.

Employer attorneys are finding both beneficial and potentially troublesome changes to California OSHA’s (Cal/OSHA) proposed workplace violence-prevention standard, including narrowing the breadth of certain situations requiring action by employers but expanding compliance obligations for employer-provided transportation.

OSHA has scheduled a May 19-20 meeting of its construction-sector advisory panel to continue discussion about the agency’s plan to eliminate several chemical-specific respirator standards, after the panel April 1 recommended OSHA not proceed with the rulemakings until it had more time to consult with the committee.

OSHA has scheduled a May 19-20 meeting of its construction-sector advisory panel to continue discussion about the agency’s plan to eliminate several chemical-specific respirator standards, after the panel April 1 recommended OSHA not proceed with the rulemakings until it had more time to consult with the committee.

The American Chemistry Council (ACC) is petitioning EPA to correct several aspects the agency’s final TSCA risk evaluation for the rubber ingredient 1,3-butadiene (1,3-BD) as part of a broader effort to head off any changes to existing worker protection standards.

Republican senators have introduced legislation to bar OSHA from finalizing the Biden-era proposal for a national heat standard following a letter to OSHA last month urging the agency to instead focus on “pragmatic solutions for preventing heat-related hazards in the workplaces.”