/ Regulatory Affairs Report
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April, 2014
Agency / Description / Internet Link
BSEE /

BSEE Releases Proposed Well Control Regulations to Ensure Safe and Responsible Offshore Oil and Gas Development

04/13/2015

04/17/2015

In response to the findings of investigations into the Deepwater Horizon tragedy, and following a thorough evaluation of recommendations from industry groups, equipment manufacturers, federal agencies, academia and environmental organizations, Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell today announced proposed regulations to better protect human lives and the environment from oil spills. The measures include more stringent design requirements and operational procedures for critical well control equipment used in offshore oil and gas operations.

/ http://www.bsee.gov/BSEE-Newsroom/BSEE-News-Briefs/2015/BSEE-Releases-Proposed-Well-Control-Regulations-to-Ensure-Safe-and-Responsible-Offshore-Oil-and-Gas-Development/
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2015-04-17/pdf/2015-08587.pdf
BSEE Federal Regulations
OSHA / New National Safety Stand-Down video unveiled
The 2015 National Safety Stand-Down is nearly here! From May 4 to 15 companies across the country will stop their work, provide focused talks on fall prevention, and re-commit themselves to on-the-job safety. A new promotional video is now available to encourage employers in various industries to participate. The video reminds viewers that falls are the leading cause of death in construction, having killed more than 3,500 workers over the last decade, but every fall can be prevented with the right equipment and training. Last year more than 1 million employers and workers across the country joined the effort, and this year OSHA and its partners hope to reach over 3 million people at over 20,000 stand-down events.
OSHA requests information on protecting workers performing communication tower construction, maintenance work
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is requesting information from the public about worker safety hazards in communication tower construction and maintenance activities. The information will assist the agency in determining what measures to take to prevent worker injuries and fatalities.
Over the past 30 years, the growing demand for wireless and broadcast communications has spurred a dramatic increase in communication tower construction and maintenance. In order to erect or maintain communication towers, employee regularly climb anywhere from 100 to 2,000 feet. Communication tower workers face the risk of falls from great heights, structural collapses, electrical hazards, and hazards associated with inclement weather.
OSHA is requesting information from wireless carriers, tower workers, engineering and construction management firms, tower owners, and tower construction and maintenance companies about the causes of employee injuries and fatalities and for information about the best practices used by employers in the industry to address these hazards.
The deadline for submitting comments is June 15, 2015. Interested parties may submit comments and additional materials electronically at www.regulations.gov, the Federal eRulemaking Portal. Comments may also be mailed or faxed. See the Federal Register notice for details.
OSHA Quicktakes Newsletter / 2015 National Safety Stand-Down
Federal Register notice
https://www.osha.gov/as/opa/quicktakes/index.html
DOT - PHMSA / Pipeline Safety: Public Workshop on Pipeline Safety Management Systems
Notice of Public Meeting
This notice is announcing a one-day public workshop to discuss the
recent Pipeline Safety Management Systems (SMS) national consensus
standard. The meeting will include participation from all major pipeline
sectors, state and Federal regulators, and public safety advocates. This workshop will detail the development process of the SMS standard. The workshop will also emphasize the core elements of the standard including: Leadership and management commitment; risk management; emergency preparedness and response; competence awareness and training; management review and continuous commitment, and the critical role of safety culture.
DATES: The public workshop will held on Wednesday, April 22, 2015, from
8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. EST. Written comments must be received by June 8, 2015.
ADDRESSES: The workshop will be held at the Westin Galleria, 5060 West
Alabama Street, Houston, TX 77056. Hotel reservations can be made under the room block ‘‘PHMSA—Pipeline Safety Management System
Workshop/’’.
Correction
In notice document 2015–08115 appearing on pages 19113–19114 in the
issue of April 9, 2015, make the following correction:
On page 19113, in the second column, under the DATES heading, in the third line, ‘‘8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. EST’’ should read ‘‘8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. CST’’. / http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2015-04-09/pdf/2015-08115.pdf
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2015-04-13/pdf/C1-2015-08115.pdf