Fulfilling a promise to America's miners

Too many miners in the U.S. have been sickened or killed by respirable crystalline silica, or silica dust, which has long been known to cause irreversible and deadly diseases like silicosis and black lung. In Pennsylvania, Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su and Assistant Secretary for Mine Safety and Health Chris Williamson announced a new final rule that lowers the permissible exposure limit, among other requirements, to help make sure miners come home to their families safe and healthy at the end of every shift.

• Watch a recording of the silica announcement
• Visit MSHA’s website to learn more about the rule
• Read an op-ed by Acting Secretary Su

Employees of five poultry processing companies in California may be owed a share of more than $3.8 million. People employed by these companies between Aug. 1, 2020, and Sept. 28, 2023, should contact the Wage and Hour Division at 626-732-1070 to determine if they are owed back wages and damages.

We’re making $7 million in grants available to benefit working women, including:

• $1 million for up to four organizations to address gender-based violence and harassment in the world of work
• $6 million for up to 17 organizations to help attract and keep women in apprenticeships and industries where they’re underrepresented

We recovered $518,446 for 54 underpaid workers at a Massachusetts worksite and debarred their employer from federally funded projects for 3 years.

With the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, we’re releasing guidance on supportive services for child care and long-term care.

OSHA cited a Trader Joe’s facility in Colorado and proposed $216,902 in penalties for violations related to forklifts and blocked electrical equipment — violations previously cited at other locations.

We’re proposing to collect information from plan administrators to establish an online search tool to help America’s workers locate lost retirement savings they earned.

We’ve awarded up to $4.7 million for a project in Ecuador’s cut flower and banana sectors to promote labor rights and reduce child labor and forced labor.

During Black Maternal Health Week, we recognize the invaluable contributions of Black birth workers in addressing the pressing issues surrounding Black maternal health.

Over the last century, domestic workers have fought to secure better working conditions and legal protections. We remain committed to enforcing these hard-won rights.

We recently announced $1.5 million in grants to an electric vehicle pre-apprenticeship program in Wisconsin. Read one tradeswoman’s story.

🥤Prevent heat illness among indoor and outdoor workers. Stay hydrated before, during and after work by drinking at least 8 ounces of water every 15-20 minutes! Learn more 👇 https://lnkd.in/eGTN2Jj5 #HeatIllnessPrevention #HeatSafety
-OSHA LinkedIn

• New York Times: U.S. to limit deadly mining dust as black lung resurges
• WBAA: Finally! Tough new safety rules on silica dust are out to protect miners' lungs
• Tampa Bay Times: Acting labor secretary talks Florida worker protections, cost of living 
• WNYC: Acting Labor Sec. Julie Su praising work of local community organizations 
• Environmental Protection Online: Maryland receives $3.5 million in emergency recovery funding following bridge collapse 
• UPI: Florida company cited over worker's heat death amid state's ban on heat illness prevention