OSHA Archives - Page 8 of 12

OSHA Launches a National Emphasis Program for COVID-19

March 23, 2021 - OSHA’s National Emphasis Program for COVID-19 has arrived. And, if you’re on OSHA’s target lists, it’s wise to prepare for a visit in the months ahead. Not an Emergency Temporary Standard… yet In late January, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) was charged by the Biden Administration to develop an Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) […]

OSHA Creates New Whistleblower Protection Categories

March 9, 2021 - Employers take note: two new whistleblower protection categories have just been created. On February 19, 2021, the Department of Labor announced that the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) would be overseeing the investigation of whistleblower complaints in two new categories: antitrust and anti-money laundering. Two laws recently passed by Congress — the Criminal Antitrust […]

OSHA Clarifies COVID-19 Reporting (For Now)

October 30, 2020 - At the end of September, OSHA updated its COVID-19 FAQs to clear up the confusion employers had expressed about the reporting of employee coronavirus hospitalizations and deaths. This new guidance effectively allows employers to avoid reporting COVID-19 hospitalizations altogether. What’s changed? OSHA requires employers to report — within 24 hours — any on-the-job illness or […]

OSHA’s Citation And Fine Against Smithfield Foods Is a First

September 21, 2020 - OSHA’s recent citation and $13,494 fine against Smithfield Foods is receiving mixed reactions. Some say it’s not enough of a penalty, even though it is the maximum amount allowed by law. Others find the whole idea of OSHA issuing pandemic-related penalties a bit ludicrous — given the confusing signals coming from the federal government. Smithfield […]

A Call To Update OSHA’s Ammonium Nitrate Standard

September 10, 2020 - In the wake of the deadly and destructive ammonium nitrate explosion at the port of Beirut, U.S. lawmakers asked — in a letter to Department of Labor Secretary Eugene Scalia — that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) update the safety standards controlling the storage, transport, and processing of this substance. Specifically, lawmakers asked […]

OSHA Commits To Improve Complaint Processing

August 27, 2020 - The dramatic increase in whistleblower complaints flowing into the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) offices should not come as a surprise to anyone. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, through August 13, 2020, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has received 8,054 complaints, with 1,070 referrals for follow-up. […]

COVID-19 UPDATE: CDC Issues Communication Plan for Employers

August 19, 2020 - The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recently issued new guidance to help employers communicate effectively with employees about COVID-19. While the COVID-19 Communication Plan for Select Non-healthcare Critical Infrastructure Employers is targeted to employers in the agricultural, manufacturing, meat and poultry, and seafood processing industries, it can be a useful tool for […]

OSHA Complaint Data Provides Some Insight

August 10, 2020 - Cumulative complaint data suggests that employers in many business sectors are facing new employee safety challenges. Complaint Data OSHA has been logging coronavirus-related complaints since February 1, 2020, and as of July 23, 2020, federal OSHA has received 7,091 complaints, and state OSHA programs have received 18,300 complaints. Federal OSHA has closed 6,138 complaints and […]

OSHA Issues Silica Standard Enforcement Guidance

July 29, 2020 - As the employer’s medical surveillance testing obligations expand, OSHA issues new instructions to regional offices regarding Silica Standard enforcement. Updated Marching Orders The compliance directive issued to compliance officers at the end of June provided detailed inspection guidance and enforcement procedures to regional offices. For employers, it provides the clearest window we have to date […]

COVID-19 UPDATE: When Employees Are Afraid to Come to Work

June 16, 2020 - For many businesses now reopening after three months of COVID-19 disruption, both employers and employees are facing new challenges. These aren’t normal times. While unemployment regulations vary from state to state, many workers who went on unemployment last March have been collecting a weekly $500 unemployment check — plus $600 more per week federal Pandemic […]

In the News / Category: OSHA

- Search News Archive