The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) has announced plans to revise the Biden-era silica rule, drawing cautious optimism from industry groups that are challenging the rule in court that the changes could resolve their issues, although the groups say MSHA has not yet provided any details to be certain.

The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) has announced plans to revise the Biden-era silica rule, drawing cautious optimism from industry groups that are challenging the rule in court that the changes could resolve their issues, although the groups say MSHA has not yet provided any details to be certain.

EPA is proposing a revised occupational exposure value (OEV) for formaldehyde that shifts the focus from a chronic exposure scenario to one that aims to protect against acute effects as well as other long-term effects, such as cancer, although the revised OEV is still more stringent than OSHA’s 1992 permissible exposure limit (PEL).

California OSHA (Cal/OSHA) officials are examining if they can work with law enforcement and health officials in several counties to expand enforcement and bring criminal charges against stone fabrication shop owners who are violating worker-protection standards, as the state continues to see a troubling increase in cases of the deadly lung disease silicosis.

OSHA has extended through Dec. 4 the deadline for employers to respond to citations that were issued right before or during the government shutdown, explaining that shutdown days do not count toward the law’s 15-day period to contest citations.

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House Democrats on the Education and Workforce Committee are urging the Labor Department (DOL) to enforce a self-insurance rule that requires coal operators to contribute to the Black Lung Disability Trust Fund (BLDTF), raising concerns that lack of enforcement increases the risk to taxpayers and the integrity of the fund.

Labor unions are touting an agreement they reached with one of the companies challenging worker protection requirements in the Biden-era EPA risk management rule for trichloroethylene (TCE), saying it could serve as a model to resolve other industry parties’ opposition to staying the litigation while EPA reconsiders the rule.

Jonathan Snare was sworn in as the new chairman of the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission (OSHRC) Nov. 24, although it is unclear when the panel will reach a quorum allowing it to hear appeals of OSHA enforcement actions that have been adjudicated by an administrative law judge (ALJ).

California OSHA (Cal/OSHA) officials are attacking OSHA’s proposal to remove medical evaluation requirements from its respirator standard, while offering recommendations to help ensure the standard is as protective as possible should OSHA proceed with its planned changes.