Despite the government shutdown the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) did manage to conduct special impact inspections at nine mines during October that resulted in 120 citations and ten orders being issued.

Following an explosion at its facility that killed three people, a West Virginia metal recycler has agreed to implement extensive, company-wide safeguards to prevent future accidental releases of hazardous chemicals from its facilities.

OSHA has cited Arlington Metals Corp. for 38 safety and health violations, which carry proposed penalties of $117,000. The agency initiated a safety and health investigation in June in response to a complaint filed by the United Steel Workers Union alleging unsafe working conditions at the Franklin Park metal strip and coil processing facility.

An explosion in June at a Louisiana gas company that killed two workers and injured 80 people has resulted in $99,000 in fines for the company. Williams Olefins LLC in Geismar, La. was cited for six process safety management standard violations, including one willful.

The U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) has released, “After the Rainbow,” a video safety message focused on potential dangers in high school chemistry laboratories. The message features Calais Weber, an accident survivor, who on January 23, 2006, at age 15 was burned over 40 per cent of her body during a chemistry demonstration performed by her teacher at a prestigious boarding school she attended in Ohio.

OSHA has cited Welco Acetylene Corp. for 19 serious safety violations following an inspection of its repackaging facility in Newark. The inspection began in May under OSHA's national emphasis program for process safety management for covered chemical facilities. Proposed fines total $49,200.

The Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) has developed a 4 Seasons of Safety campaign to educate the public about basic fire and electricity concepts and provide critical information to help identify and prevent the unique fire and electrical safety hazards that exist during each season of the year.

OSHA has announced a request for information seeking public comment on potential revisions to its Process Safety Management standard and related standards, as well as other policy options to prevent major chemical incidents.