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By SAM HANANEL, Associated Press Writer Sam Hananel, Associated Press Writer – 26 mins ago
WASHINGTON – The Labor Department plans to propose new rules aimed at limiting exposure to a chemical that gives microwave popcorn its buttery flavor and preventing industrial dust accidents.
Labor Secretary Hilda Solis is expected to announce details of the proposals on Tuesday, a labor official told The Associated Press. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because details were still being worked out.
With the two actions, Solis would be making good on a pledge to step up OSHA enforcement and create safety rules in areas where the Bush administration declined to act.
She planned to announce the actions at a groundbreaking ceremony for a memorial to workers who have died on the job. The memorial is scheduled to open later this year at the National Labor College in Silver Spring, Md.
New rules would protect workers from diacetyl, a popcorn flavoring chemical blamed for causing severe lung disease or other respiratory illnesses among hundreds of microwave popcorn plant workers who mixed large vats of flavors.
Last month, Solis moved to withdraw a last-minute Bush administration action that would have slowed the process for setting new standards on diacetyl.
Combustible dust standards were established for the grain industry after a series of explosions in the 1980s. But the Occupational Safety and Health Administration has declined to extend similar standards to other industries, despite a 2006 recommendation from the U.S. Chemical Safety Board.
Investigators blamed a February explosion at a Georgia sugar refinery on sugar dust that ignited, killing 13 people.
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WASHINGTON – The Labor Department plans to propose new rules aimed at limiting exposure to a chemical that gives microwave popcorn its buttery flavor and preventing industrial dust accidents.
Labor Secretary Hilda Solis is expected to announce details of the proposals on Tuesday, a labor official told The Associated Press. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because details were still being worked out.
With the two actions, Solis would be making good on a pledge to step up OSHA enforcement and create safety rules in areas where the Bush administration declined to act.
She planned to announce the actions at a groundbreaking ceremony for a memorial to workers who have died on the job. The memorial is scheduled to open later this year at the National Labor College in Silver Spring, Md.
New rules would protect workers from diacetyl, a popcorn flavoring chemical blamed for causing severe lung disease or other respiratory illnesses among hundreds of microwave popcorn plant workers who mixed large vats of flavors.
Last month, Solis moved to withdraw a last-minute Bush administration action that would have slowed the process for setting new standards on diacetyl.
Combustible dust standards were established for the grain industry after a series of explosions in the 1980s. But the Occupational Safety and Health Administration has declined to extend similar standards to other industries, despite a 2006 recommendation from the U.S. Chemical Safety Board.
Investigators blamed a February explosion at a Georgia sugar refinery on sugar dust that ignited, killing 13 people.
Link
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