State Cites DTE After Workers Show Elevated Lead Levels
- Michigan workplace safety officials issued a serious citation and $4,200 in fines after several DTE Energy employees recorded elevated blood lead levels.
- Inspectors found readings between 19 and 34 µg/dL, exceeding state thresholds for removal from lead‑related duties.
- MIOSHA’s review focused on soldering and cable‑splicing tasks that may have contributed to exposure.
- The agency’s findings came from inspection records obtained by MLive.
Debate Over Chemical Safety Oversight Intensifies
- A Bloomberg Law report outlines a dispute over whether EPA or OSHA should take primary responsibility for regulating hazardous chemical exposures in workplaces.
- The debate stems from 2016 TSCA amendments requiring EPA to evaluate commercial chemicals’ risks to workers.
- Industry groups argue TSCA already directs EPA to defer to OSHA when appropriate, while labor groups say EPA must regulate when OSHA standards fall short.
- Lawsuits and draft legislation offer competing approaches to clarifying the agencies’ shared authority.
Budget Bill Raises OSHA Penalty Limits
- A federal budget bill includes a provision that increases OSHA fines for workplace safety violations for the first time in 25 years.
- The measure adjusts penalties to reflect inflation since 1990 and requires future increases to track inflation.
- Maximum fines for severe violations could rise from $70,000 to about $125,000.
- OSHA will determine the final percentage increase by mid‑2016.