Government Affairs Update - December 2007

MN OSHA's 2006 Annual Report

Re-Designed ASSE Government Affairs Webpage

Along with the re-design of the national ASSE website, the Government Affairs Website got a facelift.

Minnesota Occupational Safety and Health Advisory Council

The 2008 meeting dates for the Minnesota Occupational Safety and Health Advisory Council have been set.

Friday, February 1st
Friday, May 2nd
Friday, August 1st
Friday, November 7th

The meetings are held at Labor and Industry, 443 Lafayette Road Saint Paul, MN 10:00am to 12:00 Noon. If you are interested in attending and would like the upcoming meeting agenda, contact Julie Klejewski at julie.klejewski@state.mn.us or 651-284-5018

BLS Statistics

The Bureau of Labor Statistics has published its report on Nonfatal Occupational Injuries and Illnesses Requiring Days away from Work. Both the rate and the number of occupational injuries and illnesses requiring days away from work decreased from 2005 to 2006.

http://www.bls.gov/news.release/osh2.nr0.htm

Ergonomics

New ergonomic information for construction workers and electrical contractors is available at the CDC site. There are lots of good ideas here!

Distracted Driving

It is interesting to note how legislation follows technology pretty closely. The focus on the latest distracted driving bills included here is texting. Previous legislation primarily focused on cell phones. ASSE cautions that any of these bills should not ignore that distracted driving comes from a lot of activities that take place as people drive, not just the latest technology.

ASSE’s position statement is at available online.

Other Legislation in the Works

WI S 139	Author: Kanavas (R) Title: Nanotechnology Income and Franchise Tax Credit Introduced: 04/11/07 Disposition: Pending Summary: Relates to creating an income and franchise tax credit for expenses related to nanotechnology and providing an exemption from emergency rule-making procedures. Status: 11/06/07 To SENATE Committee on ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
WI S 327	Author: Senate Committee on Law Revision Title: Lead Inspection Introduced: 11/15/07 Disposition: Pending Summary: Relates to replacing the term lead inspection with the term lead investigation with respect to the level of lead in certain premises. Status: 11/15/07 INTRODUCED 11/15/07 To SENATE Committee on PUBLIC HEALTH, SENIOR ISSUES, LONG-TERM CARE AND PRIVACY.
MN 2614	State ID: 31 SR 1699 Agency: Department of Health/Division of Environmental Health Title: Ionizing Radiation Proposed: 05/21/07 Adopted: 10/29/07 Summary: Repeals and replaces rules governing ionizing radiation. Agency Contact: Kimberly J. Pappas, X-ray Supervisor, Dept. of Health, Radiation Control Unit, 625 North Robert St., St. Paul, MN, 651-201-5826, fax 651-201-4606, Citation: MCAR 4732 Status: 10/29/07 Rule Adoption EFFECTIVE: 11/03/07 Vol. 32, No. 18, MSR, 10/29/07, p. 777