Occupational Safety & Health Reporter: Current Reports Index-Summary

LABELS AND LABELING

– Globally harmonized system for chemicals

See GLOBALLY HARMONIZED SYSTEM OF CLASSIFICATION AND LABELING OF CHEMICALS

LABOR DEPARTMENT (DOL)

– Administration and management, Senate confirms Kerr as assistant secretary, In Brief, 370
– Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs Office, Obama nominates Kennedy as assistant secretary, In Brief, 244; Senate confirmation, In Brief, 370
– Deputy secretary, Obama nominates Harris, 194; nominee stresses accountability, strategic planning during confirmation hearing, 390
– Disability Employment Policy Office, Obama nominates Martinez as assistant secretary, 245
– Employment and Training Office, Obama to nominate Oates, In Brief, 307
– Mine safety and health, Main confirmation as assistant secretary, In Brief, 925
– Occupational Safety and Health Admin.

See OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION (OSHA)

– Policy, Spriggs confirmation as assistant secretary, In Brief, 925
– Secretary, unions applaud Obama's selection of Solis, 6; safety advocates applaud nomination, 27; GAO proposes questions for congressional confirmation hearing, 28; Senate confirmation hearing provides little insight on positions on Employee Free Choice Act, OSHA, or MSHA, 41; White House hopes for committee vote soon, appoints Hugler as acting secretary, 94; Senate panel postpones vote following report of husband's tax troubles, 113; panel confirms Solis nomination, Senate vote scheduled, 131; full Senate confirms Solis nomination, 149
– Solicitor, nominee Smith vows to bring proactive enforcement at confirmation hearing, 387; Enzi (R-Wyo) requests withdrawal of nomination due to inconsistencies in testimony, 730

LABORATORIES

– Beryllium, defense contract worker may proceed with exposure suit against several parts manufacturers (1st Cir.), 369
– Chemical fire kills one, Cal. university faces fines, 369
– Gasoline additive manufacturing facility explosion and fire

– – OSHA revising process safety management rule in response to accident, 807
– – Reactor cooling system inadequacies likely cause, CSB reports, 781

– High-containment laboratories, GAO recommends single agency oversight, 808
– Nationally recognized testing laboratories, OSHA withdraws some test standards, 789
– Nuclear facilities

See NUCLEAR FACILITIES

LADDERS

– Headfirst dive in shallow water unsafe, construction requirement not applicable, deckhand contributorily negligent (5th Cir.), 817
– Refrigeration equipment service company faces fine following fatal fall at Neb. site, 790

LASERS

– Guidelines, OSHA withdraws outdated guidance, defers to ANSI standards, 326

LATINO WORKERS

See HISPANIC WORKERS

LAUNDRY AND LAUNDRY MACHINERY

– Bloodborne pathogens, universal precautions apply to medical, dental facility employees who handle linens, OSHA interpretation, 706
– Lockout/tagout violations alleged in industrial dryer fatality, House Democrats, unions criticize Cintas settlement, 5; settlement draws congressional criticism over timeliness, 43

LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS

– Border officers, Homeland Security Dep't policy denying respirators to protect against H1N1 virus

– – Appropriations bill amendment

See LEGISLATION, FEDERAL, HR 2892

– – Union, agency reach agreement to allow voluntary use, 660
– – Voluntary use of respirators

See LEGISLATION, FEDERAL, HR 2200

– – Witnesses critical at congressional hearing, 405; union criticizes policy at hearing, 494

– Immigration and customs enforcement officers, H1N1 virus cases confirmed, 492
– Prison guards, union urges Bureau of Prisons to allow wearing of stab-resistant vests, 493
– Slip on tugboat, summary judgment for New York City upheld in Jones Act case (2nd Cir.), 455

LEAD (7439-92-1)

– Amusement park cited for violations at Ill. facility, workers' names redacted (RevComm), 504
– Bone levels more accurate predictor of mortality than blood levels, study finds, 810
– Bridge paint removal

– – Ohio owed no duty of care to sandblaster (Ohio Ct. App.), 648
– – Per-employee citations under medical surveillance, training provisions upheld (RevComm), 308

– Composites manufacturing, Mass. facility inspection results in fines against 2 companies, 663
– Firearms maker faces fine for violations at Mass. facility, 66
– Nonferrous foundry faces fines for violations at N.H. facility, 925
– Special emphasis program aims to reduce exposures in 4 midwestern states, 489
– Workers, families still at risk, report urges stricter standards, 263

LEAD PAINT

– Bridge painting company faces fine for safety violations, 98
– Demolition contractor willfully violated standards (Wash. Ct. App.), 184
– Home renovation and repair, EPA to propose rule revisions, 923

LEGISLATION, FEDERAL

– Ed. Note: This heading covers bills with assigned numbers. For information on measures not yet assigned numbers, see specific subject headings.
– House

– – HR 1, American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Senate version lacks OSHA funding, 94; Senate approves version without significant worker safety and health provisions, 115; final version includes $80M OSHA “as needed” funding, President signs bill, 131
– – HR 242, Controlling employer to report injuries of contractors and temporary workers, Green (D-Tex) introduces bill, 93
– – HR 554, National Nanotechnology Initiative Amendments Act, Gordon (D-Tenn) bill requires agencies to develop strategic plans for environmental health and safety research, 95
– – HR 672, Military Environmental Responsibility Act, Filner (D-Cal) bill requires defense-related agencies to comply with federal, state environmental, worker safety laws, 151
– – HR 847, 9/11 Health and Compensation Act, Maloney (D-N.Y.) bill provides medical monitoring, treatment, compensation for first responders, residents, 116; N.Y. representatives recommend passage of bill, 150; Democrats support bill, Republicans cite litigation concerns at hearing, 260; New York City opposes spending obligations placed on city, adviser tells House panel, 325; House committee approves bill, 638; lawmakers, labor leaders urge action on bill, 760
– – HR 849, Worker Protection Against Combustible Dust Explosions and Fires Act, Miller (D-Cal)-Woolsey (D-Cal)-Barrow (D-Ga) bill requires OSHA rulemaking, 115; Am. Industrial Hygiene Ass'n recommends changes, 281
– – HR 1105, FY2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act, House approves Obey (D-Wis) bill increasing funding for OSHA, NIOSH, MSHA, 149; bill awaits Senate approval, 171; Obama signs bill providing $513M to OSHA, $360M to NIOSH, 193
– – HR 1507, Whistleblower Enhancement Act, Van Hollen (D-Md) introduces bill widening scope, employee coverage, 221; witnesses express general support for bill at House panel hearing, 409
– – HR 2067, Protecting America's Workers Act, Woolsey (D-Cal) bill allows criminal penalties for willful violations, covers more workers, 340; witnesses support increased penalties, felony prosecutions at hearing, 341; AFL-CIO report finds underreporting, calls for swift passage of reforms, 346; correction to p. 340, 370; industrial hygienists' group urges expansion of reform bill, 445
– – HR 2113, Corporate Injury, Illness, and Fatality Reporting Act, Hare (D-Ill) bill toughens requirements for large employers with multiple worksites, 365
– – HR 2200, Transportation Security Administration Authorization Act, Lynch (D-Mass) introduces amendment allowing TSA employees to wear personal protective equipment, 426; House approves bill with Lynch amendment, 473
– – HR 2381, Nurse and Health Care Worker Protection Act, Conyers (D-Mich)-Woolsey (D-Cal) bill mandates use of mechanical lifts when moving patients, 406; industrial hygiene association supports bill, urges exemption for home health care, 588; nursing groups support bill, 918
– – HR 2650, Coast Guard Modernization Act, House panel approves bill mandating strategy, measurable goals for improving vessel safety, 477
– – HR 2652, Maritime Safety Act, House panel approves establishment of safety equipment standards for fishing vessels, 477
– – HR 2868, Chemical Facility Antiterrorism Act, public interest groups seek presidential support of Thompson (D-Miss) bill giving DHS permanent regulatory authority over chemical, wastewater treatment facilities, 791
– – HR 2892, FY2010 DHS appropriations, House approve bill including amendment permitting respirator use by department employees, 551
– – HR 2996, Interior, environment, and related agencies FY2010 appropriations, Senate considers bill directing CSB to study methyl isocyanate, 589
– – HR 3094, Alexander L. Booker Child Protection Construction Site Safety Act, Edwards (D-Md) bill requires safety locks on motorized vehicles, prominent signage, and measures to prevent access to equipment at night, 637
– – HR 3258, Drinking Water System Security Act, public interest groups seek presidential support of Waxman (D-Cal) bill authorizing EPA to strengthen security at drinking water systems, 791
– – HR 3293, FY2010 appropriations for DOL, HHS, Education, and related agencies, House approves bill with increases over budget request for OSHA, NIOSH, and MSHA, Senate subpanel approves bill, 632; bill report urges OSHA to record ergonomic injuries, 633; Senate panel approves bill, 658; continuing resolution, In Brief, 859
– – HR 3371, Airline Safety and Pilot Training Improvement Act, House leaders urge Costello (D-Ill) bill to require new flight training, fatigue standards, 810; House approves bill, 902

– Senate

– – S 372, Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act, intelligence community needs protections, DOJ official says supporting Akaka (D-Haw) measure at hearing, 501
– – S 599, Federal Firefighters Fairness Act, Carper (D-Del.)-Collins (R-Maine) bill requires presumption that illnesses are job-related, 240; Senate panel approves, In Brief, 431
– – S 707, Telework Enhancement Act, Akaka (D-Haw) bill requires agencies to develop telework policies, 495
– – S 806, Federal Executive Board Authorization Act, Akaka (D-Haw) bill formalizes roles of executive boards in coordinating government activities during pandemic, 495
– – S 1274, Maritime transportation security information, Rockefeller (D-WVa) bill limits classification to restrict inappropriate use of shield, 491
– – S 1334, 9/11 Health and Compensation Act, Gillibrand (D-NY) introduces bill providing compensation for first responders, 568; lawmakers, labor leaders urge action on bill, 760
– – S 1482, National Nanotechnology Initiative Amendments Act, Kerry (D-Mass) bill provides for program reauthorization, 639
– – S 1580, Protecting America's Workers Act, Kennedy (D-Mass) introduces bill expanding OSHA coverage, increasing penalties, 677
– – S 1788, Nurse Protection Act, Franken (D-Minn) bill requires OSHA to issue standard requiring use of mechanical lift equipment when moving patients, 901; nursing groups support bill, 918

LHWCA

See LONGSHORE AND HARBOR WORKERS' COMPENSATION ACT (LHWCA)

LIFEGUARDS

– Indoor water park symptoms likely due to disinfection byproduct, poor ventilation, CDC reports, 118

LIFELINES

– Grain handlers may remove if no burying dangers shown, OSHA interpretation, 65

LIFTING

– Deckhand injured lifting pump, expert testimony on NIOSH guidelines barred (W.D. Ky.), 530
– Patient handling

– – Hospital use of mechanical devices, Conyers (D-Mich) expected to introduce bill, 215; further action, see LEGISLATION, FEDERAL, HR 2381
– – Mechanical lift standard

See LEGISLATION, FEDERAL, S 1788

– – Teams reduce injuries, health services administrator tells forum, 569

LIFTS

– Inspections, Ontario plans safety blitz, 99
– Scissor lift toppled by wind, Ontario auto parts maker faces fine, 98
– Vertical tandem lifts, Obama orders hold on pending regulation, 81

LITIGATION

– Ed. Note: For lower court cases, see specific subject headings. For Supreme Court actions, see SUPREME COURT, U.S.
– Job safety outlook, 2009, SplRpt (1/22/09) S–13

LOCKOUT/TAGOUT PROCEDURES

– Construction industry

– – Lockerbie & Hole Eastern Inc. pleads guilty to violations leading to fatality at Ontario site, 859
– – SNC-Lavalin Power Ontario pleads guilty to violations leading to fatality, 597

– Fall into industrial dryer kills worker, House Democrats, unions criticize Cintas settlement, 5; settlement draws congressional criticism over timeliness, 43
– Grain handling, OSHA clarifies effective methods of protecting workers in interpretation, 65
– Roofing products company faces fines for energy control lapses at Ga. plant, 477
– Sawmill faces fines for violations at Ala. facility, 219
– Tortilla maker faces fines for violations at Ga. facility, 877

LOCOMOTIVE BOILER INSPECTION ACT (LBIA)

– Asbestos exposure claims, state filing requirements not preempted (U.S., rev den), 46

LOGGING OPERATIONS

– Ohio Forestry Ass'n, OSHA alliance, In Brief, 266

LONGSHORE AND HARBOR WORKERS' COMPENSATION ACT (LHWCA)

– Oil platform worker's borrowed worker status conveys tort immunity to energy company (5th Cir.), 84

LONGSHORING OPERATIONS

– LHWCA benefits

See LONGSHORE AND HARBOR WORKERS' COMPENSATION ACT (LHWCA)

LOUISIANA

– Asbestos removal, OSHA fines 3 companies for violations, 524
– Associated General Contractors', Shreveport chapter, OSHA renews alliance, 763
– Boat People SOS, OSHA alliance, In Brief, 140
– Electric power transmitter and distributor earns Voluntary Protection Program status, In Brief, 478
– Energy workers' group partners with OSHA to protect safety, 241
– Falls, delivery point owed no duty of care to third-party truck driver (E.D. La.), 533
– National Safety Council chapter joins OSHA to protect construction, related industry workers, 97
– Petrochemical worker safety and health, educational council forms alliance with OSHA, 616
– Refinery faces fines after national emphasis program inspection, 664
– Safety engineers group partners with OSHA to protect petrochemical, construction workers, 65

LUNG DISEASE

– Asbestos-related disease

See ASBESTOS (1332-21-4)

– Asthma

See ASTHMA

– Diacetyl

See DIACETYL (431-03-8)

– Nanomaterials

See NANOTECHNOLOGY

– Taconite mining, university study to examine worker, spouse illnesses, 572