Thanks to a new OSHA recordkeeping rule, employers urgently need to take a close look at their employee handbooks, safety policies and procedures, safety incentive programs, and drug testing policies. The rule, which was issued late last week and goes …
Employers should pay close attention to OSHA’s recent revisions to its enforcement procedures on injury reporting, particularly those dealing with Rapid Response Investigations.
As illustrated by the Cooper Tire & Rubber case, OSHA has used the General Duty Clause in a way never originally intended.
A question sometimes comes up as to whether a trench or other excavation is a permit-required confined space under OSHA standards. The answer in broad terms is no, even though conditions in a trench can sometimes resemble those in a …
In a significant decision, the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission has ruled that OSHA’s lockout/tagout standard cannot be applied where unexpected energization cannot occur.
The deadline is approaching for annual recordkeeping reporting to OSHA. When completing these forms, it is important to know some of the most common OSHA recordkeeping mistakes that could result in enforcement action. Here are the top five:
Employers cited for workplace safety or health violations could find themselves facing significantly higher penalties and possible felony prosecution under a new federal initiative to use alleged OSHA violations as a launching point to investigate whether companies are also violating environmental laws.
OSHA continues to cite employers aggressively, and at the same time is suggesting and frequently mandating certain types of abatement. This may overstep their authority, but many employers enter into a formal or informal OSHA settlements trying to avoid expensive litigation and abate alleged violations following agency’s suggestions or mandates.
A new series of ANSI standards is now available to assist employers in assessing how to comply with OSHA standards, determine feasible safeguards or harmonize with ISO and U.S. standards.
OSHA is again taking a misguided stand against safety incentive programs as part of an effort to protect workers from retaliation for reporting injuries or illnesses.