Category: OSHA Proposed Regulation Changes

US Department of Labor seeking public comments on modernizing the OSHA VPP program that recognizes employers committed to best safety, and health practices. #OSHA

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OSHA's successful Voluntary Protection Program helps provide safe workplaces WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor announced that its Occupational Safety and Health Administration is inviting the public and workplace safety stakeholders to share their comments on how the agency can best honor companies who make exceptional commitments to workplace safety and health, and encourage … Continue reading US Department of Labor seeking public comments on modernizing the OSHA VPP program that recognizes employers committed to best safety, and health practices. #OSHA

Update 2: The Latest Developments on Workplace Vaccine Requirements

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In politics, bad news always comes late Friday afternoon. And the whole vaccine/test requirement issue is no exception to that timing. And it’s …Update 2: The Latest Developments on Workplace Vaccine Requirements

“DOL Increases Maximum Penalty Amounts for OSHA Violations” #OSHA #Safety

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On Jan. 2, 2018 the U.S. Department of Labor issued a Federal Register notice announcing an increase in the maximum penalty amounts for violations of federal Occupational Safety and Health standards and regulations. Under the new penalty structure, the maximum penalty allowed for “serious” and “other-than-serious” violations is $12,934. In addition, the maximum penalty allowed for “failure-to-abate” violations is … Continue reading “DOL Increases Maximum Penalty Amounts for OSHA Violations” #OSHA #Safety

“OSHA’s Final Rule to Protect Workers from Exposure to Respirable Crystalline Silica”

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OSHA will delay enforcement of the respirable crystalline silica standard for construction until September 23, 2017, to conduct additional outreach and provide educational materials and guidance for employers. See the memorandum. Rule requires engineering controls to keep workers from breathing silica dust The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued a final rule to curb … Continue reading “OSHA’s Final Rule to Protect Workers from Exposure to Respirable Crystalline Silica”

“Time To Act: Save 2018 FY Worker Training Grants, Health & Safety Research” #WorkplaceSafety

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By Jordan Barab If you haven’t yet done so, it’s time to do so. And if you have done so, do it again: Contact your legislators about passing a budget that will protect workers.  The House Appropriations Sub-Committee that deals with OSHA, MSHA and NIOSH is scheduled to mark up the FY 2018 Appropriations Bill on Thursday, July … Continue reading “Time To Act: Save 2018 FY Worker Training Grants, Health & Safety Research” #WorkplaceSafety

“Inconsistent Enforcement of New OSHA Fall Rule Feared” #FallProtection

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By Tripp Baltz Employers fear inconsistent enforcement of an OSHA rule allowing some work to be done without ordinarily required fall protection because key terms are not defined. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s updated fall protection rule, which went into effect Jan. 17, allows certain activities to be done without fall protection systems as long … Continue reading “Inconsistent Enforcement of New OSHA Fall Rule Feared” #FallProtection

“Is That My Employee? Multi-Employer, Joint-Employer, Independent Contractors and Temp Workers” @OSHA_Guy

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Employers must beware as the U.S. Department of Labor (“DOL”) cracks down on what it perceives as rampant misclassifying employees as contractors and shirking other responsibilities, such as safety training, because a worker is supplied by another employer.  With more and more unique employment relationships and multi-employer worksites, it is crucial to understand the complexities … Continue reading “Is That My Employee? Multi-Employer, Joint-Employer, Independent Contractors and Temp Workers” @OSHA_Guy

OSHA Standards Should Be Met Despite Recent Delays

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Gloria Gonzalez  - 5/1/2017 Employer representatives hope that delays in the enforcement dates of U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations issued over the past year are accompanied by better compliance guidance. But the delays do not mean employers can rest on their laurels, with legal and loss control experts firmly advocating that they continue to … Continue reading OSHA Standards Should Be Met Despite Recent Delays

“Top 5 OSHA Issues to Track in 2017″ Webinar” @OSHA_Guy

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Presented by Eric J. Conn, Kate McMahon, Amanda Strainis-Walker, Micah Smith, Lindsay DiSalvo and Dan Deacon The ball has dropped, the confetti has been swept out of Times Square, and 2016 is in the books.  It’s time to look back at the year and take stock of what we learned from and about OSHA over … Continue reading “Top 5 OSHA Issues to Track in 2017″ Webinar” @OSHA_Guy

“Effective Dates for New OSHA Recordkeeping Rule Looming”

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Is Your Company Ready for Public Access to Your Workplace Injuries and OSHA's Oversight of Retaliation Protections? Earlier this year the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) published a new rule that attempts to shame employers into lowering workplace injuries and gives OSHA much broader discretion to regulate retaliation by employers. The rule's new requirements … Continue reading “Effective Dates for New OSHA Recordkeeping Rule Looming”

“OSHA Announces Feral Cats Are Not Vermin”

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On October 4, 2016, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued a press release and announced that it was proposing changes to 18 separate regulations “as part of an ongoing effort to revise provisions in its standards that may be confusing, outdated or unnecessary. The proposals run across a wide spectrum from the technical (i.e., … Continue reading “OSHA Announces Feral Cats Are Not Vermin”