This past July, OSHA’s Colorado offices published a Local Emphasis Program regarding workplace hazards associated with cannabis production. Check out our blog post on Cannabis Law Now.
OSHA Publishes New Heat Safety Standard
On August 30, 2024, OSHA formally published its heat safety standard for indoor and outdoor work in the Federal Register, starting a 120-day public comment period.Continue Reading OSHA Publishes New Heat Safety Standard
Understanding OSHA’s Proposed Heat Safety Regulations
On July 2, OSHA unveiled its proposed heat safety rule, currently awaiting official publication in the Federal Register. This rule aims to protect employees from heat-related injuries and illnesses by establishing comprehensive requirements for employers, as outlined in a White House Fact Sheet.
The proposed rule is part of broader effort by the Biden Administration to respond to the impacts of climate change. Once the proposed rule is published in the Federal Register, the public is encouraged to submit written comments on the rule. Key rule provisions include:Continue Reading Understanding OSHA’s Proposed Heat Safety Regulations
OSHA Heat Standard Heads to White House for Review
OSHA has been working a proposed standard for indoor and outdoor heat illness since 2021. This month the proposed standard has been sent to the White House’s Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) for review.
While the language of the proposed standard has not be released, the rule is expected to include temperatures that trigger requirements under the rule such as mandatory rest breaks. OSHA has previously stated the rules to protect workers from heat illness would be followed after the heat index reaches 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Continue Reading OSHA Heat Standard Heads to White House for Review
MSHA Announces Stakeholder Meetings Regarding New Silica Rule
MSHA announced it will hold a series of stakeholder meetings across the country to share information about the final silica rule issued on April 18, 2024. The first two meetings are scheduled for Arlington, VA on July 10, 2024, and Beckley, WV on July 17, 2024, and will be both an in-person and an online
OSHA’s Revised Hazard Communication Standard Creates New Requirements for Labeling, Classification, and SDS Access
On May 20, 2024, OSHA published finalized revisions to the Hazard Communication Standard (the “HazCom standard”). The HazCom standard is a commonly cited standard in OSHA inspections. The revisions to the rule address the amount and quality of information on labels and SDS and increase access to important hazard information for workers and first responders.
MSHA’s Final Silica Redraws the Landscape for Silica Compliance
The Acting Secretary of Labor appeared with the Assistant Secretary for Mine Safety and Health, Chris Williamson and union leaders on April 16th at an event in Uniontown, PA to announce the release of MSHA’s final respirable crystalline silica rule to the public. Although President Biden was campaigning in Scranton, PA, he did not make an appearance at the event.Continue Reading MSHA’s Final Silica Redraws the Landscape for Silica Compliance
MSHA Posts Template for Compliance with Surface Mobile Equipment Rule
MSHA has posted a template for compliance assistance with the Surface Mobile Equipment Rule. MSHA will begin to enforce the standard on July 17, 2024. The standard does not require operators to submit their plan to the agency, but the plans will be reviewed during inspections. As a reminder, your surface mobile equipment safety programs
OSHA Finalizes Inspection Walkaround Rule
On March 29, 2024, OSHA released the final version of its new rule that could reshape future OSHA inspections.Continue Reading OSHA Finalizes Inspection Walkaround Rule
Attention Employers: The Expanding Scope of Responsibility in Workplace Shootings
In 2021, there was a mass shooting at a high school in Michigan in which four students were killed. As a result of this shooting, not only was the shooter prosecuted, but the parents of the shooter were charged with criminal liability by their failure to take ordinary care to act appropriately, and are, therefore, being tried for four counts of involuntary manslaughter. The mother was recently convicted.
Other parents in the last few months have pled guilty to charges of reckless conduct or neglect in these situations. Given this pattern, it is reasonably foreseeable that employers—if such shootings take place in the workplace—may also be prosecuted or subject to stiff personal injury claims due to shootings in the workplace, if they do not follow at least the minimum standards as set out in state law regarding restrictions on weapons in the workplace.Continue Reading Attention Employers: The Expanding Scope of Responsibility in Workplace Shootings
Announcing Fall MSHA Workshop in Denver: Understanding MSHA Litigation
The average mining operator now spends over $20,000 per year on citations and penalties. In this must-attend cost-savings workshop, learn how to reduce or eliminate fines—with the added benefit of improved safety conditions. In an era of increasing citations, this workshop will prepare you to handle Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) inspectors and challenge citations.Continue Reading Announcing Fall MSHA Workshop in Denver: Understanding MSHA Litigation