OSHA has announced that it will extend the comment period on the proposed rule to improve the tracking of workplace injuries and illnesses to Oct. 14, 2014. The proposal, published on Nov. 8, 2013, would amend OSHA’s recordkeeping regulation to add requirements for the electronic submission of injury and illness information that employers are already required to keep.
OSHA is soliciting comments on whether to amend the proposed rule to: 1) require that employers inform their employees of their right to report injuries and…
Continue reading...
Employees of a Brooklyn medical facility were allegedly exposed to head, eye, face and groin injuries and intimidation and threats during routine interactions with patients and visitors. An inspection by OSHA reportedly found approximately 40 incidents of workplace violence between February 7 and April 12, 2014. These incidents involved employees who were threatened or physically and verbally assaulted by patients and visitors, or when breaking up altercations between patients. The most serious incident was an assault of a nurse, who sustained severe brain injuries when…
Continue reading...
Continue reading...
President Obama recently signed an Executive Order mandating that companies seeking federal contracts must disclose all labor law violations from the previous three years in order to be eligible for such contracts. The Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces Executive Order will govern new federal procurement contracts valued at more than $500,000 and provide information on companies’ compliance with federal labor laws for agencies. The Executive Order is expected to be implemented on new contracts in stages, on a prioritized basis, during 2016.
The goal of…
Continue reading...
Continue reading...
In 2013, the communications industry was confronted by an increasing number of fatalities involving worker falls from cell tower sites. Alarmingly, OSHA recorded fourteen fatalities, all of which were determined preventable — either a result of an employer’s failure to provide fall protection or an employee’s failure to use the equipment. In the wake of this statistic, on July 17, 2014, OSHA implemented a new directive governing all work activities on communication towers that involve the use of a hoist to lift personnel to or…
Continue reading...
Continue reading...
Every year, dozens of workers are killed by heat, and thousands more experience heat-related illnesses. With summer heat on the rise across the nation, workers and employers are turning to OSHA’s Heat Safety Tool for help staying safe in the heat. The App allows workers and supervisors to calculate the heat index for their worksite, and, based on the heat index, displays a risk level to outdoor workers. In addition, it provides reminders about protective measures that should be taken at that risk level to…
Continue reading...
Continue reading...
On June 22, 2014, OSHA announced a new interactive training tool to help small businesses effectively identify hazards in the workplace. According to the announcement, employers and workers can “virtually” explore how to identify common workplace hazards in the manufacturing and construction industries. Users of the new training tool will learn not only hazard identification skills but also about hazard abatement and control.
Through the hazard identification tool, users reportedly learn to identify realistic, common hazards from the perspective of either a business owner or…
Continue reading...
Continue reading...
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration is soliciting applications from nonprofit organizations, including employer associations, labor unions, and joint labor/management associations, under a program called the Susan Harwood Training Grant Program. The $7 million in grant money will fund training and education for workers and employers to identify and prevent workplace safety and health hazards. Two types of safety and health training grants will be awarded: Targeted Topic Training and Capacity Building; approximately $3.5 million will be available in each grant…
Continue reading...
Continue reading...
Falls are the leading cause of death in the construction industry. In 2012, 279 construction workers lost their lives in falls from heights and more than 8,800 construction workers were seriously injured by falls. From June 2 through June 6, 2014 employers and workers are voluntarily stopping work to talk about saving lives and preventing fatal falls. More than 1 million workers and tens of thousands of businesses across the country are expected to participate in this national stand-down for fall safety.
This national stand-down…
Continue reading...
Continue reading...
On May 21st, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) announced that OSHA will begin referring time-barred whistleblower claims (brought pursuant to Section 11(c) of the OSH Act) to the NLRB, which has a longer limitations period, for investigation and potential prosecution. In order to facilitate this collaborative program, OSHA agents have been provided with talking points briefly describing the NLRB and providing other information to use when referring untimely Section 11(c) complainants.
The statute of limitations for a whistleblower claim brought pursuant to Section…
Continue reading...
Continue reading...
- OSHA announces the launch of its annual Campaign to Prevent Heat Illness in Outdoor Workers, aiming to raise awareness and educate workers and employers about the dangers of working in hot weather.
- OSHA signs alliance with the American Staffing Association to work together to further protect temporary employees from workplace hazards.
- OSHA renews alliance with Electrical Joint Apprenticeship and Training Trust (EJATT) to further commit itself to protecting electrical workers against arc blast, arc flash, and other hazards that occur when installing electrical
Continue reading...