Compliance tips

In 2016, OSHA issued a serious citation to a private security guard firm that did not require its armed security guards to wear bulletproof vests. An ALJ tossed out the citation, but the story’s not over. OSHA has an appeal pending before the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. At stake: whether certain employers must require employees to wear bulletproof vests as personal protective equipment (PPE).

Though Safety Law Matters is all about workplace safety and health, we know many of you deal with employment law issues at your companies and wanted to flag an important blog post by our colleagues. This Spring, the Social Security Administration began sending employers “no-match” letters for W-2s that had mismatched names or Social Security Numbers (compared with SSA’s records). How should you respond?

During its recent quarterly stakeholder call, the Mine Safety and Health Administration announced a new “Fire Suppression Safety Initiative” (FSS) to ensure that fire suppression systems on mobile equipment are in working order and capable of extinguishing equipment fires. The initiative appears to involve educating operators about FSS, including proper inspections and maintenance, as well as stepping up related enforcement.

OSHA says it will increase enforcement with a revised National Emphasis Program (NEP) for trenching and excavation because of an increase in fatalities. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, trenching and excavation deaths nearly tripled between 2011 and 2016 (130 deaths in all in that time). The revised NEP will add enforcement, compliance assistance, and outreach programs.

How did one of the world’s most familiar brands go from 30 lost-time injuries per month to two in just ten years? Safety professionals across industries will be interested in this first-hand account about David White’s remarkable run overseeing supply chain at Campbell Soup.