HEALTH

OSHA May Be Ordered to Speed Smoking Ban Consideration: The U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington may rule as early as next month on whether to require the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration to speed its deliberations on a proposed ban on workplace smoking. In oral arguments, the anti-smoking group Action on Smoking and Health asked the court to impose a timetable for final action on a smoking ban, which OSHA proposed two and a half years ago. OSHA lawyers argued the agency has not been able to complete its work on the proposal, which has generated more public comments than any other rule making in its history. ASH, citing information in a Los Angeles Times article last week, claimed the agency was stalling due to political concerns.