Labor Secretary Pledges No Reduction in Inspections Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer told congressional leaders a smaller OSHA can still be as effective as the current staffing to keep workers safe. She made the commitment in a June 5 appearance before the House Education and Workforce Committee on OSHA’s budget. “My department is hard at work […]

    Utility Contractors Set Trench Safety Stand Down The National Utility Contractors Association (NCUA) is calling for a Trench Safety Stand Down next week to raise awareness to help prevent injuries and fatalities caused by trench cave-ins. In partnership with OSHA and the national industry alliance, Partners for Safe Trenching and Excavation Operations, June […]

  HHS Publishes “Justification” for 80% NIOSH Cuts A budget justification published Monday by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, titled “Administration for a Healthy America”,  shows the agency is seeking to allocate $73.2 million to NIOSH in FY 2026, which begins Oct. 1. NIOSH’s National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory, which is responsible […]

  Black Lung Screening Still Not Operating at 100%; Lacks Funds, Operators The West Virginia-based black lung mobile screening unit operated by NIOSH’s Respiratory Health Division is still not fully functional, despite a federal court order to resume the program. Local media said the agency’s mobile X-ray unit is parked behind an office building in […]

  NY Launches Retail Worker Safety Info Site The New York State Department of Labor has launched its guidance website for the state’s new Retail Worker Safety Act, which went into effect on June 2. The website provides a model policy and training that employers can use as a starting point to create their own […]

  OSHA Nominee Commits to Workplace Violence Proposal David Keeling, President Donald Trump’s pick to lead the OSHA, told a Senate panel on Thursday that the agency will issue a regulation to address workplace violence. Setting out his priorities, Keeling told the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions hearing on his nomination that he hoped […]

  Illinois Looks to Public for Roofing Safety Report The State of Illinois is relying on the public to report unlicensed roofers, CU-CitizenAccess reported. “We’re doing the best that we can,” Chris Slaby, public information officer for the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, said when asked about the apparent lack of licenses. “To […]

  NIOSH Black Lung Workers Hired Back At least 50 employees in NIOSH’s Respiratory Health Division have had their terminations rescinded, meeting requirements set in a court order last month. Those returning to work include “most” employees who worked within the RHD before April 1, which is when reduction in force notices were issued throughout […]

North Carolina Boosts Safety Inspector Pay More Than 5% North Carolina has raised starting salaries for workplace safety inspectors at the Department of Labor to $61,000 annually for fully qualified compliance safety officers. The more-than-5% boost is part of a new initiative by Commissioner Luke Farley to strengthen workplace protections across the state and to […]

  U.S. Attorney Offers Support to RFK Jr. Move on NIOSH Cuts Lawsuit The acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia has filed a letter supporting a motion by Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s to dismiss a lawsuit over cuts at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. On May 13, U.S. […]