Prompted by last year’s deadly gas pipeline explosion in San Bruno, Calif., lawmakers in Washington moved uncharacteristically quickly. The Senate Finance Committee in May unanimously passed the Pipeline Transportation Safety Improvement Act of 2011 to toughen regulations. As the San Francisco Chronicle reports, support for the legislation was so broad that Senate Democrats initiated steps to get it passed by unanimous consent.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is extending the comment period for its carcinogen and Recommended Exposure Limit (REL) Policy Assessment.
 

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) announced today the release of NFPA 56 (PS), Standard for Fire and Explosion Prevention During Cleaning and Purging of Flammable Gas Piping Systems, 2012 Edition, which prohibits the use of flammable gas as a cleaning agent for cleaning the interior of pipes

OSHA has cited ABC Coke in Birmingham, Alabama for 27 safety and health violations following the death of a worker in March.

OSHA has issued a revised hazard alert to hair salon owners and workers about potential formaldehyde exposure from working with certain hair smoothing and straightening products.

The American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) has approved what it calls a groundbreaking standard on prevention through design.