May 9, 2025
OSHA schedules hearing, DWC announces research agenda and more
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
OSHA will host a virtual public hearing on its proposed rule to protect employees from hazardous heat exposure in indoor and outdoor workplaces. The public can view the hearing online without registration. The hearing is scheduled for June 16 at 8:30 a.m. CDT.
The Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers' Compensation (DWC)
The DWC has included a study on the potential impacts of transitioning to the 6th edition of the American Medical Association (AMA) Guide in its Fiscal Year 2025 Research Agenda. This study will evaluate the feasibility and impact of adopting a more current version of the AMA Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment, moving from the currently used 4th edition. The Workers' Compensation Research and Evaluation Group will conduct the study with assistance from the Medical Quality Review Panel.
The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA)
MSHA seeks presenters for 2025 TRAM Conference
MSHA has issued a call for presenters for the 2025 Training Resources Applied to Mining (TRAM) Conference, scheduled for November 4-6 at the National Mine Health and Safety Academy. The conference theme is Safe Mines, Strong Futures, covering topics from best practices in content delivery to innovative training design techniques. Interested presenters must submit their registration and presentation synopsis by September 1. MSHA also invites entries for the Training Materials Competition, with the same deadline.
The National Safety Council (NSC)
NSC announces National Safety Month resources for June
The National Safety Council has released public materials for National Safety Month in June 2025. The event features weekly themes including Continuous Improvement, Employee Engagement, Roadway Safety and Wellbeing. NSC offers various resources such as a participant guide, social media kit, webinars and a "Go Green for Safety" campaign. The council also encourages participation in the SafeAtWork Pledge and completion of the Safety and Health Maturity Assessment.
NSC announces 2025 Road to Zero grant recipients
The National Safety Council has announced the recipients of its 2025 Road to Zero Community Traffic Safety Grants. These grants, funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, support initiatives aimed at eliminating preventable traffic deaths. Among the six grantees is the University of Texas at San Antonio, which will develop a Geospatial Artificial Intelligence tool for proactive crash prevention. Other projects focus on rural response times, pedestrian safety and automated vehicle technology.
Studies, resources, trends, news
Exploring differences in industrial head protection
Occupational Health & Safety magazine has published an article examining the differences between Type I and Type II head protection in industrial settings. The piece details ANSI/ISEA Z89.1 standards, OSHA recommendations and factors to consider in hazard assessments. It also discusses additional requirements for Type II hard hats, European standards comparisons and considerations for choosing appropriate head protection. The article emphasizes the importance of understanding these differences to make informed decisions about workplace safety equipment.