Thursday, September 28, 2017

Trump Administration Stalls Key Obama Rule on Worker Safety

WASHINGTON — The Trump administration is slow-walking enforcement of a major Obama-era regulation to strengthen protections for construction workers against a type of dust that has been linked to cancer and lung disease.

Enforcement of the new rules for silica dust — which workers are often exposed to while cutting, drilling and grinding materials like concrete, granite and mortar — was originally scheduled to begin on June 23, but the Trump administration issued a three-month delay. Last Wednesday, three days before the Sept. 23 deadline, the Labor Department granted another reprieve, announcing that it would hold off fully enforcing the rules for 30 more days.

During the month-long grace period, which extends until late October, the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) will "carefully evaluate good faith efforts" by employers trying to comply with the new requirements and assist them in doing so, according to a Labor Department memo. 

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