After a long downward trend, U.S. traffic deaths are on the rise again, and a key factor is the stubbornly high fatality toll among some of the most exposed people on the road: motorcyclists. Nevertheless, federal regulators have balked at requiring a safety measure that, many experts say, could save hundreds of bikers’ lives every year.

The U.S. Senate voted 50-48 this week to strike down a key provision of OSHA’s recordkeeping rule by axing the agency’s ability to cite recordkeeping violations found by inspectors that are older than 180 days. The so-called “Volks” rule that was struck down – issued in December 2016 -- gave OSHA the ability to issue citations to employers for failing to record work-related injuries and illnesses during the 5-year retention period, contrary to the six-month statute of limitations.

Let’s say someone you care about—mother, father, wife, husband, partner, son, daughter, friend, and neighbor—works in a facility that’s had a history of serious injuries or illnesses. You know, like burns, amputations, and broken bones that happen at work. Or head, eye, or back injuries.

A worker safety advocacy group is urging Americans to contact their U.S. senators and oppose the Congressional Review Act Resolution of Disapproval which would repeal an OSHA rule clarifying an employers' obligation to keep accurate records of work related injuries.

On January 17, 2017, OSHA’s new Walking-Working Surfaces Rule took effect, updating OSHA regulations that have been in place for nearly a half century. OSHA’s new rule, commonly referred to as the “Slips, Trips and Falls” rule, actually revises and updates two historic OSHA standards — the Walking-Working Surfaces regulations at Subpart D and the Personal Fall Protection regulations at Subpart I of OSHA’s General Industry Standards (29 C.F.R. Part 1910).

President Trump is reportedly close to filling the position that will be instrumental in helping him reach his goal of eliminating 75 percent of all federal regulations.

The American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA®) is asking its 8,500 members to contact their US Senators and urge them to oppose the passage of H.J.Res.83, which would use the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to permanently overturn OSHA's final rule, which clarifies that an employer is obligated to establish and maintain accurate records of work-related injuries and illnesses throughout a five-year record retention timeframe.

Unions, open-shop builders and developers are expected to clash as New York City’s Housing and Buildings Committee of the City Council will hear 21 bills related to construction safety. The bills would increase penalties for certain violations, require site-safety plans at buildings four stories and higher and—most controversially—mandate worker training programs.

More regulatory restrictions, pilots mistaking drones for birds and digital stress were among the top stories featured on ISHN.com this week.

One ladder is all it takes for a general industry workplace to be affected by OSHA’s new Walking-Working Surfaces Final Rule (Subpart D). J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc., the nation’s leading provider of safety and compliance solutions, has introduced a wide variety of regulatory resources to help companies simplify compliance with this nearly universal rule.