News brief

Industrial hygienist, ergo foe picked for top posts

President George W. Bush nominated John L. Henshaw to be assistant secretary of labor for occupational safety and health. Henshaw, an industrial hygienist, spent 20 years at the Monsanto Corp. and is currently director of environment, safety, and health for Astaris in St. Louis. Henshaw’s nomination was widely lauded by occupational health professionals and worker advocates. However, Bush’s nomination of Eugene Scalia for the top legal post in the Labor Department has raised concerns. Scalia, son of U.S. Supreme Court Judge Antonin Scalia, has represented the National Coalition on Ergonomics and has opposed ergonomic regulation as a labor lawyer at the Washington, DC, firm of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher.

The U.S. Senate must confirm both nominations. Hearings on the nominations were expected to begin in July.