Ohio Plans to Double Truck Parking Capacity

• Ohio plans to create at least 1,400 new parking spaces for commercial trucks and buses, more than doubling current capacity at its Department of Transportation-maintained sites.
• The plan includes adding those spaces at 33 sites in 19 counties.
• The state will create or expand current parking lots to address a shortage of safe, accessible long-term parking for commercial motor vehicle drivers to meet federal rest requirements.
• Construction is expected to begin next year and be completed by the end of 2027.
• The White House in June announced an initiative to increase safe truck parking, allocating more than $275 million to expand parking across the country.
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Bechtel Teams on Construction Suicide-Mental Health Initiative

• Construction giant Bechtel and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) have launched “Hard Hat Courage,” an initiative to address the industry’s high suicide rate and prioritize mental health alongside physical safety.
• The initiative aims to provide construction firms of all sizes with mental health and suicide prevention resources and education, focused on the building industry.
• AFSP has developed “toolbox talks” that contractors can bring to the jobsite, offering guidelines for conversations to challenge the stigma surrounding suicide and mental health.
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OSHA Extends Comments on Nixing Remaining Healthcare COVID-19 Reqs

• OSHA has set a 60-day extension of the comment period on its proposed rule to remove the remaining requirements of its emergency temporary standard for occupational exposure to COVID-19, which called for certain healthcare employers to protect workers in healthcare settings from exposure to the virus that causes COVID-19.
• The agency said the extension was in response to requests from stakeholders.
• The proposal would remove recordkeeping and reporting requirements imposed on covered health care employers related to health care workers with COVID-19.
• The comment period, originally scheduled to end Sept. 2, will now end Nov. 1.
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Grain Industry Shouldn’t Expect Swift Reversals on Safety Under Trump

• Grain industry employers should not expect abrupt reversals on federal attention on facilities with elevated injury or inspection histories under the Trump administration, attorney Aaron R. Gelb recently told an industry meeting.
• Both national and local emphasis programs will continue to drive OSHA inspection activity throughout fiscal 2025, he said at a conference hosted jointly by the Grain Elevator and Processing Society and National Grain and Feed Association.
• Policies such as site-specific targeting and emphasis programs for machine guarding, fall protection, and lockout/tagout remain active and relevant.
• Facilities in grain storage, milling, and transport that fall under these programs should continue preparing for comprehensive reviews.
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