Advocacy

ACOEM strongly supports OSHA’s proposal to include both construction and shipyard workers under the beryllium rule. However, the College expresses concern that other proposed changes to the rule will diminish health protection for workers exposed to beryllium, compared to the final rule that OSHA promulgated on January 9, 2017.

ACOEM responds to OSHA regarding effectiveness of engineering and work practice controls in the Respirable Crystalline Silica Standard for Construction, 



 

As the U.S. Congress looks at a number of legislative proposals relating to federal marijuana policy, the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM) cautions legislators to avoid piecemeal solutions.  Regardless of marijuana’s legal status in a jurisdiction, ACOEM strongly supports legislative proposals that allow employers to prohibit those employed in safety-sensitive positions from working while under the influence of marijuana.
 

Any operator with ultimate responsibility for operating automated driving systems must not have any medical issue which might interfere with their cognitive function to ensure that they are able to react if and when the need arose, states ACOEM in response to FMCSA's request for comments on safe integration of automated driving systems (ADS)-equipped commercial motor vehicles.

ACOEM supports a National Clearinghouse tol improve the process of identifying commercial drivers who should not be performing safety-sensitive functions because of a violation of agency drug and alcohol testing regulations.

ACOEM expresses its appreciation to Rep. Bobby Scott, Chair of the House Education and Labor Committee, for his amendment to prohibit OSHA for rolling back the beryllium standards for construction and maritime workers.

It is ACOEM’s opinion that training, certification, and limited access of methylene chloride-containing products for commercial use will not provide enough safeguards to workers, and would present an unreasonable risk of serious illness and death.

ACOEM believes there is a need for the DOT to take a more active role in distributing guidance to its intended audiences. Interested parties, such as medical examiners, may be unaware that such guidance exists or overlook its importance given that it is not regulatory.

ACOEM supports directing OSHA to establish a standard requiring health care and social service employers to  implement a workplace violence prevention plan to prevent and protect employees from violent incidents in the workplace.