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
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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will no longer be required to submit certain injury and illness information to OSHA, after the agency controversially rescinded two major components of its its electronic record-keeping rule.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
OSHA has announced that $10.5 million in training grants will become available for non-profit organizations looking to improve their workplace health and safety. The three Susan Harwood Training Grants will support the creation of in-person, hands-on training and educational programs including the development of materials for workers and employers in small businesses. They are: TargetedRead more
Washington – As Donald Trump attempts to push through significant cuts to the Department of Labor’s budget, Secretary of Labor R. Alexander Acosta is seeking more funds for OSHA so that enforcement of existing laws can be ramped up. Speaking at a hearing convened by the Senate Appropriations Committee, Acosta said “laws matter. They have beenRead more
