Washington — The Environmental Protection Agency is seeking comment on problem formulation documents for the first 10 chemicals slated for evaluation for potential health and environmental risks under the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act, as well as a systematic review approach document and a proposed significant new use rule for asbestos.

Washington — A pair of recent Environmental Protection Agency proposals regarding asbestos are cause for alarm, Sen. Tom Udall (D-NM) is cautioning, while the agency contends it is attempting to expand restrictions on the substance.

Washington — Claiming the Environmental Protection Agency is “rushing forward” with various regulations while much of the nation is focused on the COVID-19 pandemic, Reps. Bobby Scott (D-VA), Jerry McNerney (D-CA) and Mike Quigley (D-IL) recently sent a letter to EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler, calling on the agency to extend all comment periods for matters related to public and environmental health at least 45 days past the end of the declared national emergency.

Washington — Critics of the Environmental Protection Agency are renewing their call for a complete ban on asbestos after the agency’s release of Part 1 of a final risk evaluation that concludes that the substance – a known human carcinogen – presents an unreasonable health risk to workers under certain conditions.

Washington — The Environmental Protection Agency is seeking comment on a draft of Part 2 of a final risk evaluation that concludes asbestos – a known human carcinogen – presents an unreasonable health risk to workers under certain conditions.

Washington — The Environmental Protection Agency has announced a proposed rule that would ban the use of chrysotile asbestos, a known human carcinogen linked to lung cancer and mesothelioma – a cancer of the membranes in the abdomen and chest.

Washington — The Environmental Protection Agency is accepting comment until July 5 on a proposed rule that would establish reporting and recordkeeping requirements for asbestos – a known human carcinogen – under the Toxic Substances Control Act.

Washington — The Environmental Protection Agency has announced the availability of the final scope of Part 2 of the final risk evaluation to be conducted for asbestos.

Stockholm — Exposure to dusts and fumes from common workplace agents such as vapors, gases and solvents may increase workers’ risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis, results of a recent study out of Sweden show.

Research Triangle Park, NC — To help protect workers who engage in mold cleanup and treatment, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences’ Worker Training Program has updated its guidance document.

Washington — OSHA will prioritize rulemaking for a standard on preventing workplace violence in health care and social settings, Labor Secretary Marty Walsh testified during a May 17 House subcommittee hearing.

Pre-COVID-19 pandemic work life may not return as quickly for employees in customer-facing industries. As some experts see it, the immediate future for workers in grocery, retail, hospitality and similar sectors still includes the risk of stress and anxiety stemming from interactions with angry or aggressive customers.

Geneva — Nearly a quarter of workers worldwide have endured workplace violence or harassment, but only half of the victims discuss their experiences, results of a recent survey show.

Provo, UT — Utah Gov. Spencer Cox (R) has signed a law allowing employers to petition for and obtain protective orders against anyone who poses a threat.

Cincinnati — A new guidance document from NIOSH outlines ways to reduce the risk of injuries and deaths associated with robbery-related violence at gasoline stations and convenience stores.

Sacramento, CA — The California Senate has approved legislation aimed at preventing workplace violence, particularly by banning employer policies that direct non-security personnel to confront shoplifters.

Iowa City, IA — Three out of 5 young employees have experienced some form of workplace violence, results of a recent study show.

Sacramento, CA — Employers in California will be required to establish, implement and maintain a workplace violence prevention program, under a new state law.

Washington — The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is asking for comment on proposed enforcement guidance aimed at preventing and addressing worker harassment based on sex, race and other protected traits.

Washington — OSHA “continues to be hampered” by the lack of a permanent standard on infectious diseases and “needs to address worksite violence,” a new report states.

Cambridge, MA — Nine out of 10 customer service workers recently surveyed say they’ve experienced an increase in customer abuse and hostility over the past 12 months.

Victoria, Australia — “Transport workers are people too. Please respect them.” That request appears alongside the images of Public Transport Victoria workers clad in custom safety vests depicting their life stories.

Washington — The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration wants input from truckers as it shapes a study to analyze how common sexual assault and harassment are in the trucking industry.

Washington — To address a sharp increase in assaults against public transit workers, the Federal Transit Administration has published a proposed directive tasking public transit agencies with monitoring safety risks more closely.

Chicago — Chronic workplace harassment may increase the risk of coronary heart disease, arthritic/rheumatic conditions and migraines, results of a recent University of Illinois Chicago study show.

Albany, NY — Assaulting a retail worker is now a felony in New York state, under a new law signed May 1.

Washington — New guidance from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is intended to prevent and address worker harassment based on sex, race and other protected traits, outlining when such behavior is against the law.

Washington — A handful of potential OSHA standards have advanced in the rulemaking process, according to the Department of Labor’s Spring 2024 regulatory agenda – released July 5.

Columbus, Ohio — Do some bosses who are abusive toward employees get away with it simply because they’re “high performers?” A recent pair of studies took a look.

Orlando, FL — Although OSHA remains largely a regulatory and enforcement agency, it’s recently started prioritizing safety culture.

Washington — On the 30th anniversary of the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 becoming law, the Department of Labor’s Women’s Bureau released three issue briefs on safe leave.

London — Around half of workers who’ve been harmed on the job in the past two years didn’t report it, according to a new report from Lloyd’s Register Foundation.

Dover, DE — More than half of public school teachers have been the target of verbal aggression or threats by a student in the past three years, according to a recent survey conducted by the Delaware State Education Association.

Orange Beach, AL-based Columbia Southern Universityhas been granted institutional accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges board of trustees.

Personal protective equipment manufacturer and distributor Magid Glove & Safety has been awarded a 2022 Chicagoland Top Workplaces honor for the second year in a row.

Chris Martin is the new director of technical sales for Burlington, NC-based GlenGuard and its brand of flame-resistant and arc-resistant fabrics.

Matrix Design Group, a provider of technology for mining and industrial safety and productivity located in Newburgh, IN, has named Mark Stanton vice president of industrial sales and business development.

Tom Votel, president and CEO of Ergodyne in St. Paul, MN, has been reelected as chair of the International Safety Equipment Association. ISEA is “the voice of credibility for the safety equipment industry,” the association’s website says.

The MEMIC Group, Portland, ME-based specialists in workers’ compensation insurance, has awarded an Illinois State University research team $30,000 to investigate whether wearable sensors can maximize performance and minimize injuries in U.S. workplaces.

Origami Risk, a risk, safety and insurance software as a service technology firm in Chicago, has been profiled in the 2023 Green Quadrant report, issued by Verdantix, of the 23 most prominent environmental, health and safety technology providers.

Mick Bowden is the new vice president of sales and marketing for Air 
Systems International in Chesapeake, VA. Bowden joined Air Systems in 2004 after starting his industrial sales career with Fastenal.

Rockford Systems LLC, a turnkey supplier of machine safeguarding equipment and services in Rockford, IL, has launched a newly redesigned website at rockfordsystems.com.

Rockford Systems LLC, a Rockford, IL-based provider of machine safeguarding products and services, is now a voting member of the American National Standards Institute B11 Standards Committee.

Mechanix Wear, a leading designer and manufacturer of high-performance work gloves located in Valencia, CA, has promoted Jesse Spungin to CEO from president and COO.

Polartec, a Milliken & Co. brand, a Spartanburg, SC-based creator of innovative and sustainable textile solutions, has announced new roles and responsibilities for veteran employees Ramesh Kesh and Eric Yung.

Magid Glove & Safety, a Romeoville, IL-based personal protective equipment manufacturer and distributor and founding member of the Heat Safety and Performance Coalition, has made available a Heat Safety Toolkit that consists of free resources.

Eagleville, PA-based Streamlight Inc., a provider of high-performance lighting and weapon light/laser sighting devices, is celebrating 50 years of manufacturing high-quality flashlight products.

Spartanburg, SC-based flame-resistant and arc-rated textile manufacturer Westex: A Milliken Brand has partnered with Dovetail Workwear, a women’s workwear apparel brand, to launch the co-branded “Women at Work” campaign.

Rockford Combustion, a Rockford, IL-based company in the fuel-train management and combustion safety industry, recently launched a next-generation, revamped website.

Gas and flame detection solutions provider Teledyne Gas and Flame Detection has a new website. Go to teledynegasandflamedetection.com to find new content on a range of gases – including hydrogen, carbon monoxide, oxygen and ammonia.