Remember injury and illness data must be reported to OSHA electronically by March 2, 2024. OSHA does not send out notifications or reminders to establishments to report injury and illness data (i.e., required data from the Form 300A Summary of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses, Form 300 Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses, and Form 301 Injury and Illness Incident Report).Continue Reading OSHA Injury and Illness Data Submission Due March 2, 2024
OSHA
OSHA Announces Preference for Safety Helmets over Hard Hats
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.” Continue Reading OSHA Announces Preference for Safety Helmets over Hard Hats
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.Continue Reading OSHA to Replace Existing Fire Brigades Standard with Broad Emergency Response Rule
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.Continue Reading OSHA 2023 Fall Regulatory Agenda Released
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.Continue Reading Recent Updates on OSHA Policies and Rulemaking
OSHA Announces Proposed Rulemaking Regarding Authorized Employee Representation During Inspections
The Department of Labor (“DOL”) announced a notice of proposed rulemaking on August 29, 2023, concerning who employees can authorize to act as their representative during Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”) workplace inspections. Continue Reading OSHA Announces Proposed Rulemaking Regarding Authorized Employee Representation During Inspections
OSHA Announces National Emphasis Program to Prevent and Reduce Workplace Falls
On May 1, 2023, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced that it has begun a National Emphasis Program (NEP) to prevent and reduce fall-related injuries and fatalities for people working at heights in all industries. Continue Reading OSHA Announces National Emphasis Program to Prevent and Reduce Workplace Falls
OSHA Continues to Pursue Healthcare Workplace Violence Rule
Back in January, we posted about the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (“OSHA”) intention to convene a Small Business Advocacy Review Panel (“SBAR Panel”). This Panel would help decide whether OSHA should enact a Prevention of Workplace Violence in Healthcare and Social Assistance standard.Continue Reading OSHA Continues to Pursue Healthcare Workplace Violence Rule
New OSHA Enforcement Guidance to Expand Issuance of Instance-By-Instance Citations
New Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) enforcement guidance set to take effect on March 27, 2023, will expand OSHA’s authority to issue instance-by-instance, or “IBI,” citations. Since 1990, OSHA has issued such IBI citations only upon finding “egregious willful violations,” but the new guidance – set forth in OSHA’s January 26, 2023 memorandum – permits OSHA to issue IBI citations for certain “high-gravity” serious violations.Continue Reading New OSHA Enforcement Guidance to Expand Issuance of Instance-By-Instance Citations
OSHA Pursues Potential Standard for Prevention of Workplace Violence in Healthcare and Social Assistance and Unions Urge Enhancements to Final COVID-19 Safety Standard for Healthcare Workplace
The increase in the frequency of violent confrontations faced by healthcare workers in the workplace is prompting OSHA to pursue a standard for Prevention of Workplace Violence in the Healthcare and Social Assistance industries. Healthcare workers have faced a significant increase (63% from 2011-2018) in the incidence of violent and aggressive acts in the workplace, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Association of American Medical Colleges. According to OSHA, “nonfatal workplace violence is more widespread in the Healthcare and Social Assistance Standard than in any other industry.”Continue Reading OSHA Pursues Potential Standard for Prevention of Workplace Violence in Healthcare and Social Assistance and Unions Urge Enhancements to Final COVID-19 Safety Standard for Healthcare Workplace