Practical EHS Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
As today’s workplace becomes more complex, regulation of that workplace increases. In this section, you’ll find the practical advice you need to understand exactly what OSHA, other federal agencies, and their state counterparts, require of you, and to comply in the ways that best satisfy both your and their needs. Look also for important court decisions, advice on how to handle enforcement actions, and news of upcoming changes in workplace health and safety law.
Free Special Report: What to Expect from an OSHA Inspection
OSHA is proposing to revise its Occupational Injury and Illness Recording and Reporting (recordkeeping) regulation by restoring a column on the OSHA Form 300 to better identify work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). The proposed rule wouldn’t change the existing requirements for when and under what circumstances you must record MSDs on your injury and illness log. […]
Yesterday we talked about the controversy over OSHA’s Enhanced Enforcement Program (EEP) and the likelihood that significant changes are on the way. Today we’ll tell you what those changes are likely to be and how you can keep up with all the enforcement news. Employers that have been affected by EEP or might be affected […]
OSHA’s Enhanced Enforcement Program is under the gun and slated for a makeover. OSHA has committed to upgrading the program, which could have a significant effect on those who fail to comply with safety standards. Enforcement under the Occupational Safety and Health Act is chronically criticized as inadequate, mismanaged, and underfunded. While those charges are […]
Does the confirmation of the new OSHA administrator mean the dawn of a new era of greater regulation and stricter enforcement? It’s too early to say for sure. But here’s a look at what might be headed your way. What can you expect from OSHA under David Michaels? Listen to what Michaels himself says in […]
Whether David Michaels is the right person to head OSHA was a hotly debated topic in recent months. With his confirmation, we take a look at his credentials and what people are saying—pro and con—about the new OSHA chief. As we start the new year and consider the impact of the confirmation of David Michaels […]
The controversy surrounding the nomination of David Michaels as OSHA chief centers around Michaels’ stated intention to take a more aggressive regulatory and enforcement stance, and also focuses on a highly divisive issue—ergonomics. The battle over the Obama administration’s nominee to head OSHA, David Michaels, heats up as industry groups express concern over projected changes […]
Yesterday, we listed 14 specific workplace rights conferred on your employees by OSHA. Today, we’ll take a closer look at two key rights that sometimes get employers in trouble. OSHA encourages employees to be active players in their workplace’s safety and health effort. Specifically, OSHA encourages workers to join with employers in promoting safety on […]
Washington, D.C., is full of new faces and new initiatives. What are the implications for occupational safety and health of all these changes? Who stands to gain and whose agenda will be shoved to the back burner for the next 3½ years? There is no shortage of opinion about what the Obama administration will ultimately […]
Employers across the country are being hit with big penalties for safety and health violations all the time. Make sure you have the safety resources and information you need to stay in compliance and keep your company’s name out of the headlines. OSHA assesses penalties on the basis of: Gravity of the alleged violation Size […]
You hope you never get an OSHA citation. But should that day ever come, you need to be prepared for what happens next—the "abatement" process. If OSHA cites your workplace for violations, you must follow prescribed abatement procedures in a timely manner. There are five key steps. 1. Correct. Hazards found during an OSHA inspection […]