Washington — The Federal Railroad Administration has issued a final rule requiring certain railroads to develop and implement a fatigue risk management program as a component of their larger safety risk reduction program.

Washington — The Federal Railroad Administration is requesting public comment on a proposed rule that would require at least two crew members for most trains.

Washington — The Federal Railroad Administration has extended until Dec. 2 the comment period on a proposed rule that would require at least two crew members for most trains.

Washington — Responding to a petition for reconsideration of a final rule on its Risk Reduction Program, the Federal Railroad Administration is seeking comment on whether to keep or remove a provision clarifying that certain contractors are considered a railroad’s directly affected employees.

Washington — The Federal Railroad Administration has scheduled a public hearing on a proposed rule that would require at least two crew members for most trains.

Washington — In response to a recent fatal derailment at a Texas train yard, the Federal Railroad Administration has issued a safety advisory on the use of portable derails.

Washington — In response to an incident involving the unintended release of a train’s automatic air brakes while stopped at a signal, the Federal Railroad Administration has issued a safety advisory.

Washington — The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration is alerting hazmat rail tank car owners and others of “the potential for certain manway assemblies with aluminum protective housing covers to melt when exposed to extreme heat.”

Washington — Spurred by the Feb. 3 train derailment and fire in East Palestine, OH, the freight rail industry says it’s taking several “initial steps” to improve safety.

Washington — The Federal Railroad Administration has scheduled a special meeting of its Railroad Safety Advisory Committee, to focus on the recent freight train derailment in East Palestine, OH.

Washington — Although recent technologies can improve train handling and fuel efficiency, “they cannot replace the need for correct car placement and assembly,” the Federal Railroad Administration says in a recent safety advisory.

Washington — The Federal Railroad Administration is making available $5 million in grants for the creation of a rail research and development Center of Excellence.

Washington — Alarmed by a recent spike in assaults against transit workers, the Federal Transit Authority is proposing a rule designed to protect workers and passengers.

Washington — The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration is set to publish a proposed rule that would require railroads to maintain and update information about hazardous material shipments.

Washington — The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration has extended until Oct. 27 the comment period on a proposed rule that would require railroads to maintain and update hazardous material shipment information.

Washington — Concerned by the deaths of two workers struck by roadway maintenance machines in separate instances within the past two years, the Federal Railroad Administration has issued a safety advisory.

Washington — Enhancing first responders’ education and training on hazardous materials is the focus of more than $30 million in recent Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration grant funding.

Washington — Spurred by 123 rail incidents linked to severe weather over the past three years, the Federal Railroad Administration has issued a safety advisory.

Washington — The Federal Transit Administration is accepting comment on a proposed rule that would establish mandatory minimum safety standards for rail transit employees who work on or near tracks.

Washington — The railroad industry says its investment in safety is paying off with significant decreases in train incidents and rail worker injuries.

Washington – OSHA issued a correction and technical amendment to its Hazard Communication Standard to change references of “Material Safety Data Sheets” to the updated “Safety Data Sheets.”

Washington – Providers of Safety Data Sheets and chemical labeling may include additional information on a contained substance if it presents a combustible dust hazard, OSHA said in an interpretation on the recently revised Hazard Communication Standard.

Washington – OSHA and the Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch of the Canadian Department of Health have signed an agreement to collaboratively implement the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals in their respective jurisdictions.

Washington – The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration has announced plans for a pilot program to evaluate the safety and security impacts of a paperless hazard communications system for shippers and carriers.

Arlington, VA – Employers in the mining industry that follow OSHA’s newly revised Hazard Communication Standard will be in compliance with the Mine Safety and Health Administration’s hazcom standard, MSHA clarified in an Aug. 13 policy letter.

How do I ensure my facility is compliant with GHS labeling requirements?

Washington – OSHA and the Society for Chemical Hazard Communication are sponsoring a free webinar to explain the inspection procedures for OSHA’s recently updated Hazard Communication Standard.

Washington – OSHA has updated its hazard communication webpage to include easier access to topics on the agency’s revised standard.

Washington – OSHA has extended, to May 2, the deadline to submit comments on the agency’s draft document on using the “weight of evidence” approach to classifying hazardous chemicals.

Washington – OSHA and Health Canada have developed a work plan intended to align U.S. and Canadian requirements for classifying, and sharing information about, work-related chemical hazards.

Washington – OSHA has scheduled an informal public meeting to discuss potential updates to its Hazard Communication Standard. The meeting is set to take place Nov. 16 at the Mine Safety and Health Administration headquarters in Arlington, VA.

Although nobody can say for certain when the next revision to OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard will take place, the agency hosted a meeting in November to gather stakeholder feedback on efforts to align the standard with the United Nations’ Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals.

Washington – OSHA has scheduled a public meeting on June 20 in advance of the 33rd session of the United Nations Sub-Committee of Experts on the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals.

Washington – Any long-awaited update to OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard is not forthcoming, an agency official said June 20.

Washington – OSHA is scheduled to lead a public meeting on Nov. 14 in advance of the 34th session of the United Nations Sub-Committee of Experts on the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals.

Washington — OSHA has scheduled a public meeting for June 12 to discuss proposals ahead of the 35th session of the United Nations Sub-Committee of Experts on the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals.

Washington — OSHA is scheduled to lead a public meeting on Nov. 13 in advance of the 36th session of the United Nations Sub-Committee of Experts on the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals.

Washington — OSHA and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration will host a public meeting on June 20 to gather information in preparation for a pair of United Nations meetings, the agencies announced in the May 22 Federal Register.

Washington — To support implementation of the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals, OSHA and Health Canada have released joint guidance on pictogram requirements for three hazard communication categories.

Washington — OSHA and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration will host virtual public meetings June 24 in preparation for a pair of United Nations meetings.

Washington — OSHA and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration will host virtual public meetings Nov. 19 in preparation for a pair of United Nations meetings.

Washington — OSHA has extended until May 19 the comment period on a proposed rule that would update the agency’s regulations on hazard communication to align with the seventh version of the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals.

Washington — OSHA has scheduled a virtual public meeting for June 23 in advance of the 40th session of the United Nations Sub-Committee of Experts on the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals.

Washington — OSHA has scheduled an informal public hearing for Sept. 21 on proposed updates to the agency’s regulations on hazard communication.

Washington — OSHA has scheduled a virtual public meeting for June 15 in advance of the 42nd session of the United Nations Sub-Committee of Experts on the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals.

Washington — OSHA has scheduled a virtual public meeting for Nov. 16 in advance of the 43rd session of the United Nations Sub-Committee of Experts on the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals.

Employers are required to train workers on chemical Safety Data Sheets and labels as part of OSHA's updated Hazard Communication Standard. Try the interactive quiz, our most popular quiz ever.

They’re “essential for a compliant hazard communication program,” one expert says. (Bonus: Take our quiz to find out how much you know about SDSs.)

A common question we are asked is, “We work a 12-hour shift: Should I use 8 or 12 as the time duration on my noise dosimeter to calculate the time-weighted average?” Understanding how changing the time duration of a noise dosimeter sample affects the results, and how this relates to the noise standard, will help us make the best decision.