A rule to establish standards for combustible dust that’s been in the works since 2009 is scheduled to move closer to completion in 2014, with a proposed draft regulation due this spring.

In the OSHA budget justification the agency laid out some of its plans for 2015: Inspections – OSHA announced the agency will conduct more health and safety inspections in 2015, with most of the increase occurring in health inspections. OSHA says the reason for this is that health issues are being identified as increasing.

A Michigan farmer that houseshis temporary workers in substandard buildings with broken toilets, showers and screen doors, standing water and pest infestations has been ordered by a federal judge to clean up his act.

Following the discovery that some contractors hired by Lowe’s Home Centers to renovate homes had violated federal regulations regarding lead dust, the company has agreed to a corporate-wide compliance program at its 1,700+ stores.

While public hearings for OSHA’s proposed crystalline silica rule concluded on April 4, the agency is extending submission deadlines in order to give participants additional time to prepare post-hearing submissions.

The issue of how important credentials are for safety professionals got a bit more clarity recently, with a review by the American Industrial Hygiene Association® (AIHA) and the American Board of Industrial Hygiene® (ABIH).