NACOSH Charter Extended for Two Years

Acting Labor Secretary Julie Su has renewed the two-year charter for OSHA’s National Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety and Health.
According to a notice published Sept. 12, the charter now runs through Sept. 4, 2026. The renewal increases the estimated annual operational costs for NACOSH by approximately 3%, from $201,715 to $207,767.
In July, the agency said it was seeking nominations for four seats on the panel, each for a two-year term.
The 12-member panel advises, consults with and makes recommendations to the secretaries of Health and Human Services and Labor related to the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970.
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As part of OSHA’s National Preparedness Month, Young Wheeler, director of the agency’s Office of Emergency Management, has posted a blog on the importance of ensuring every worker knows what to do regardless of their English proficiency or the language they speak.
This year’s campaign focuses on helping Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities prepare for disasters.
“As an Asian American myself, I often translated for my family when I was younger, so I understand the importance of language access. It’s critical to train workers on how to respond safely to an emergency in the language they understand,” said Wheeler.
The agency provides print resources in several languages, and every OSHA webpage is available in many languages by clicking the “Languages” button at the top of the page.
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NIOSH on Friday released the draft Hazard Review: Wildland Fire Smoke Exposure Among Farmworkers and Other Outdoor Workers.
It is open for public comment until Nov. 12, 2024.
The unit of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said it is the first federal level authoritative document with a focus on wildland fire smoke for outdoor workers and seeks to boost awareness about the overall risk of exposure.
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Virginia Tech has launched a new major in construction safety leadership, which began accepting students in May.
The first cohort could graduate in May 2025.
The Myers-Lawson School of Construction, housed in the College of Engineering, created the program to address the need for specially trained construction engineers with a safety-focused mindset.
The major includes five courses, including: Construction Safety Systems; Construction Health and Safety, a review of government and agency regulations; Controlling Construction Safety Hazards; Construction Safety Culture; and, Construction Industry Futures: Safety, Health, and Wellness.
“I have seen the impact a safety-first culture has on both my company and the industry as a whole,” said A. Ross Myers, CEO of Allan Myers and co-founder of the Myers-Lawson School of Construction. “With more students who are dedicated to safety coming out of Virginia Tech, we know that there will be top-tier professionals in these leadership positions.
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