A broad coalition of industry trade associations is again pressing the Senate to reauthorize the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) program by quickly passing a two-year bill that has already cleared the House, teeing up the issue again after lawmakers returned from their August recess.

Lawmakers and witnesses at a recent Senate Environmental and Public Works Committee (EPW) hearing on extreme heat appeared open to a union official’s arguments that this summer’s record temperatures show the need for stronger worker protections, though several also expressed opposition to a “one-size-fits-all” nationwide policy.

Lawmakers and witnesses at a recent Senate Environmental and Public Works Committee (EPW) hearing on extreme heat appeared open to a union official’s arguments that this summer’s record temperatures show the need for stronger worker protections, though several also expressed opposition to a “one-size-fits-all” nationwide policy.

OSHA is taking a broad view of when a worker’s injury can be considered “work-related” in a new guidance letter holding that an unprovoked car crash and shooting on public roads still meets the test, and rejecting an employer’s suggestion that such “unforeseeable third-party criminal acts” can overcome the general presumption that any on-the-job incident falls under the agency’s recordkeeping mandates.

OSHA has agreed to reform how it handles reimbursements to state plans for emergency supplemental funding following a report from the Office of Inspector General (OIG) faulting several aspects of the process, though the agency is maintaining that some of the problems that report found with fund allocation were out of its control.

Echoing chemical industry groups, Sens. Joe Manchin (D-WV), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and J.D. Vance (R-OH) are pressing EPA to rework its proposed TSCA rule regulating methylene chloride to allow all uses of the solvent to continue as long as companies meet worker-protection mandates.

Echoing chemical industry groups, Sens. Joe Manchin (D-WV), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and J.D. Vance (R-OH) are pressing EPA to rework its proposed TSCA rule regulating methylene chloride to allow all uses of the solvent to continue as long as companies meet worker-protection mandates.

Trade groups, congressional Republicans and attorneys are outlining arguments against OSHA’s proposal allowing third parties to accompany compliance officers on inspections even when they do not work for the company involved, ranging from claims that it is legally invalid to calling it the result of “regulatory voodoo.”

Trade groups, congressional Republicans and attorneys are outlining arguments against OSHA’s proposal allowing third parties to accompany compliance officers on inspections even when they do not work for the company involved, ranging from claims that it is legally invalid to calling it the result of “regulatory voodoo.”

The Biden administration is urging the Supreme Court to overturn an appeals court decision that held administrative law judges (AJLs) are unconstitutional and instead affirm long-time practices at OSHA and other agencies of relying on ALJs to adjudicate administrative enforcement proceedings that seek civil penalties.