- Thu. Aug 21, 2008
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HILL BRIEFS
House Approves Bill To Limit Dangerous Dust In Workplace
Workers would get new protections from combustible dust explosions like the one that killed 13 people in a Georgia factory in February under legislation passed by the House on Wednesday.
The legislation, approved 247-165, is needed because the Occupational Safety and Health Administration has not moved fast enough to keep workplaces free of the levels of dust that can become fuel for fires and explosions, Democrats said.
"If OSHA doesn't act, then we must," said House Education and Labor Chairman George Miller.
An explosion Feb. 7 at an Imperial Sugar Co. refinery outside Savannah killed 13 people and has been blamed on dust that ignited. A lawsuit filed Wednesday by a widow of one of the deceased workers said accumulation of sugar dust inside the plant was so severe that "handprints and footprints were clearly visible" on floors and walls.
The bill goes to the Senate. House Republicans suggested Democrats are rushing through legislation without knowing all the facts, since OSHA has not finished its investigation at Imperial Sugar.
"The bill in front of us presumes that current safety standards were insufficient, but the truth is that we don't yet whether that is the case," Education and Labor ranking member Howard (Buck) McKeon.
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- Previous: Hoffa To House On FTAs: Let's Wait Until Next Year
5/1/2008 AM Contents
- Administration Leaves The Door Open To Measure That Carries ’09 War Funds
- Dodd Looks To Move On Credit Card Bill
- House Turns To Remaining Business In Genetics Measure
- Pension Dispute, Partisan Flares Slow Progress On FAA Bill
- Peterson Makes Preparations For Life After The Farm Bill
- Dorgan Tries Again To Form Panel To Probe War Contracts
- Moran Seeks To Restore Direct Payment Cuts In Farm Deal
- Oberstar Wants Full Access To Harbor Maintenance Trust
- Young Defends Role In Coconut Road Interchange Project
- Baucus, Panel Say National Agenda Is Needed To Compete
- As Electronic Waste Grows, So Do Problems Of Its Disposal
- Final Committee Vote Expected Today On Housing Aid Plan
- Chertoff Calls For Consensus On New Anti-Terrorism Laws
- House Panel Passes Lite Reform Of Arms Export Process
- Senate Panel Finishes Work On Defense Authorization Bill
PEOPLE
HOUSE RACE HOTLINE EXTRA
HILL BRIEFS
- Inspector General Report Says Department Has Work To Do
- IT Managers Want More From Homeland Security
- Hoffa To House On FTAs: Let's Wait Until Next Year
- House Approves Bill To Limit Dangerous Dust In Workplace
- Another Record Set For Surveillance Warrants
MARKUP REPORTS
- House Panel Mulls Revamping GI Bill
- Bill Would Reimburse Vets For Emergency Health Care
- House Judiciary Moves Bill On Copyright Enforcement
- Citizen Corps For Disasters Moving Through House
- Panel Guts Bill To Enlist Civil Air Patrol At Border
