In a reversal, OSHA has altered its enforcement policy for recordable cases of COVID-19, adding that it will increase workplace inspections as economies reopen in states throughout the country. The US regulator says that throughout the course of the pandemic, understanding about the transmission and prevention of infection has improved. As such, OSHA has issuedRead more
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The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has released a popular and timely new video for employers and workers on how to properly wear and remove a respirator in seven steps. For workers who may need to use respirators to protect themselves from coronavirus exposure, a properly worn respirator can help reduce the wearer’sRead more
USA: OSHA has announced changes to its enforcement weighting system and it says it will now consider a number of factors when considering the impact of a workplace safety inspection. Under the current enforcement weighting system initiated in 2015, OSHA weights certain inspections based on the time taken to complete the inspection or, in someRead more
The National Safety Council (NSC) and OSHA have announced the preliminary Top 10 most frequently cited workplace safety violations for the fiscal year 2019 – and it appears U.S. companies are failing to address the same hazards year-on-year. Remarkably, Fall Protection – General Requirements (1926.501) tops the list for the ninth consecutive year. NSC PresidentRead more
OSHA is reminding covered establishments that the new deadline to submit 2018 Form 300A (Summary of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses) is March 2. OSHA’s final electronic record-keeping rule is for all establishments with at least 250 employees, and those with 20 to 249 employees in certain industries with historically high occupational injury and illness rates.Read more
Democratic lawmakers in Washington are once again making a push to pass the Protecting America’s Workers Act – legislation that has been introduced to Congress several times without being passed. Among other things, the Act gives OSHA tools to ensure that employers promptly correct hazardous working conditions, protect workers from retaliation when they blow theRead more
U.S. employers with 250 or more employees will no longer be required to submit certain injury and illness information to OSHA, after the agency controversially rescinded two major components of its its electronic record-keeping rule. In 2016, OSHA amended its record-keeping regulation to require employers to annually submit to certain injury and illness information to an onlineRead more
Incomplete initiatives aimed at improving employer reporting of injuries are some of the key management and performance challenges facing OSHA and the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), according to a new report. The Department of Labor Office of Inspector General recently released a report that recommended how OSHA and the MSHA could best use their resourcesRead more
The Occupational Health and Safety Administration has released its list of the top 10 violations seen by the agency in fiscal year 2018, with Fall Protection and Hazard Communication taking out spots 1 and 2 respectively. Interestingly, the list includes two categories that have not previously made the top 10. OSHA Deputy Director Patrick KapustRead more
On November 9, 2017, the Occupational and Safety Health Administration (OSHA) published its final rule on crane operator certification compliance. Businesses were given a year to ensure that all crane operators were certified. After spending many months addressing stakeholder concerns, OSHA has now finalised new obligations for employers in the construction industry. Employers must nowRead more
