On December 11, 2023, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”) announced that it will be “replacing traditional hard hats used by its employees with more modern safety helmets.”
Monica Munin
Monica represents clients in a wide variety of labor and employment litigation, including complaints arising under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), the Virginia Human Rights Act, and similar state laws. She has handled cases involving non-competes, non-solicitation agreements, and other restrictive covenants. Monica has worked with clients in a wide variety of industries, including construction, manufacturing, and mining. Monica devotes a significant portion of her practice to Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) compliance and related litigation.
OSHA to Replace Existing Fire Brigades Standard with Broad Emergency Response Rule
On December 21, 2023, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) unveiled an unofficial version of its proposed Emergency Response Rule. The Emergency Response Rule, if finalized, would replace an existing rule applicable to firefighters with a much broader rule that also covers emergency medical personnel and search-and-rescue workers. The Rule aims to resolve what the agency has described as a “patchwork” of unrelated standards for emergency workers and will address a variety of workplace hazards, including exposure to toxic chemicals, equipment failures, infectious diseases, and the mental health impact of first-responder positions.
OSHA 2023 Fall Regulatory Agenda Released
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”) released its latest regulatory agenda on December 11, 2023. According to the agenda, OSHA intends to advance several long-promised rules in either the final days of 2023 or early 2024.
Recent Updates on OSHA Policies and Rulemaking
The following are updates on recent policy and rulemaking efforts by the agency. Please reach out to your Husch Blackwell workplace and health contact with any questions.