I just returned from a meeting at National Safety Council, where I had an opportunity to read a recent press release. The essence of the release is shown below. Discussions with industry colleagues suggest that we spend too much time …
Today’s consumers seek organizations that demonstrate socially responsible business practices. ISO, the International Organization for Standardization, has been working on the issue for many years and has decided to launch an International Standard providing guidelines for social responsibility (SR). It …
An industry newsletter is reporting that OSHA is suspending a pilot program to crackdown on alleged under-reporting of accidents and illnesses because the program has not found significant numbers of violations. OSHA announced the program last year and said it …
Over past years, in a limited number of cases, OSHA has alleged a separate violation and proposed a separate penalty for each instance of non-compliance with OSHA recordkeeping regulations, safety and health standards and with the general duty clause. The …
Many safety professionals are familiar with the myriad voluntary standards for facilities, machines, robots, risk assessment, management systems, ladders, lasers, etc. The list is staggering but I wish to focus on machine safety standards to help readers understand how they …
Most of us take voluntary safety standards for granted. As I look at my computer’s AC adapter, I see more than 20 symbols. As a consumer, I know that the manufacturer is declaring that the device conforms to numerous global, …
There’s no question that along with OSHA’s big enforcement push has come a substantial increase in the number of violations labeled “willful” or “repeated.” The consequences of such citations are potentially severe from the standpoints of financial impact, public relations …
A bill to tighten enforcement in OSHA and MSHA advanced a step Wednesday, receiving approval in the House Education and Labor Committee in a vote along party lines. The changes to OSHA were originally in a bill called the Protecting …
Proposed changes to OSHA that are now working their way through Congress, including increased penalties, focus on punishing employers and will not improve workplace safety and health, a representative of a coalition of employer groups testified Tuesday. “Penalties alone will …
As I wrote in an earlier post legislation is moving through the House of Representatives that would dramatically change the OSHA Act, increasing protection for whistleblowers and making officers and directors subject to criminal liability for OSHA violations in certain …