FederalDaily - August 4, 2006

TSA Tops Injuries List

If you are a federal employee working at the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), you are more likely to suffer illness or injury on the job than your counterparts at other federal agencies, according to data released by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. In the first quarter of this year, of all agencies, TSA had the highest number of illness- and injury-related cases, with a combined total of 2,334. For four years straight, the agency has held that dubious distinction. Of the total, 1,239 incidents resulted in employee lost time. According to the TSA website, the agency responsible for the security of the nation’s transportation systems employs about 50,000 people. For more go to: www.osha.gov/dep/fap/statistics/fedprgms_stats06_1st.html

:: Back to Top ::

Conn. U.S. Attorney Seals Deal to Help Absentee Voters

Connecticut’s absentee military and overseas voters who are still without ballots will get a second chance to participate in the state’s Aug. 8 federal primary election, thanks to an agreement reached between the Department of Justice (DOJ) and state officials, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Connecticut District announced Aug. 2. The agreement mandates emergency procedures for next week’s election to ensure that eligible military and overseas voters actually can vote. Many did not receive an absentee ballot in sufficient time to return a Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot in next week’s election. Meanwhile, the DOJ Civil Rights Division has filed suit, alleging election officials in many towns failed to mail requested absentee ballots to eligible voters in time for them to participate in the primary. “Today’s filing in U.S. District Court shows that the federal government is prepared to give every eligible voter access to our democratic process,” said U.S. Attorney Kevin J. O’Connor.

:: Back to Top ::

DOD Guidance: “Expired” Clearances Deemed Adequate

A Department of Defense (DoD) memorandum should help defense industrial workers whose security recertifications have been delayed. Deputy Under Secretary of Defense Robert Andrews clarified that many recertifications were running behind schedule, but that defense contractors should know that “personnel security clearances do not ‘expire’” and delayed reinvestigations should not bar workers from continued access to secure workplaces. “I’m pleased that the Pentagon has clarified its policy and that our defense workers can get to work where and when national security requirements—not bureaucracy—call,” said Rep. Rob Simmons, R-Conn. Simmons has attached legislation to protect defense industrial workers—especially Electric Boat employees in his state—from being denied work when their old clearances expire. Delays in the Pentagon’s Defense Security Service and the Office of Personnel Management in recertifying the security clearances of these workers have created barriers for some seeking to keep or seek new work in the field. To read the memo, go to: http://simmons.house.gov/UploadedFiles/Andrews%20ltr.pdf.

:: Back to Top ::