The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced a final rule on employer-paid personal protective equipment (PPE) on November 15, 2007 which became effective May 15, 2008. Under the rule, all PPE, with a few exceptions, are provided at no cost to the employee. The rule for employer payment of PPE only applies when equipment is used by an employer to comply with one of the PPE requirements in OSHA's standards. In some cases, the OSHA rules describe the exact PPE that is required, and in other cases the requirements are more general.
The United States Department of Labor has released final revised regulations implementing the Family and Medical Leave Act. The revised regulations are over 750 pages in length and adopt most of the positions the DOL outlined in proposed regulations issued in February 2008. The regulations become effective on January 16, 2009, 60 days from November 17, 2008, the date the regulations will be published in the Federal Register.
Susquehanna Valley Association of Pennsylvania Occupational Health Nurses achieves AAOHN 2008 Chapter of the Year Award (local). This distinction recognizes and is awarded to chapters that develop strong association programs in all areas that are responsive to member needs.