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
In 2012, the Henry RAC Holding Corporation—a New Jersey-based rifle manufacturer—was labeled by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) as a “severe violator,” and placed in the Severe Violator Enforcement Program (SVEP). As a result, the company was subject to follow-up inspections by OSHA. In a 2016 follow-up inspection, OSHA cited the company for […]
At Lauren Manufacturing in New Philadelphia, Ohio, an employee accidentally sliced off her own finger as she was cutting rubber material using a bench cutter. An Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) investigation showed that it was the second debilitating injury at the plant in 18 months, and it identified four repeat violations of OSHA […]
Yesterday we looked briefly at the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) criteria for deciding when it will cite multiple employers at a single worksite for the same hazardous condition. Today we’ll take a closer look at the different categories of employers that OSHA may cite.
On June 18, 2016, workers for three different employers were troubleshooting a problem with the drill string at an oil well in Watford City, North Dakota, when a hydrocarbon release resulted in an explosion and flash fire. One worker was killed, three workers were injured—and all three employers were cited by the Occupational Safety and […]
The U.S. Department of Labor published a final rule in the Federal Register that increases penalty amounts to adjust for inflation across its various agencies, including OSHA. The penalty increases are effective as of January 13, 2017.
Surprisingly, the most common federal crime committed by an “organizational offender” in Fiscal Year (FY) 2015 was environmental, according to a recent report from the United States Sentencing Commission. The average fine for an organizational offender was almost $23 million. Let’s take a closer look at the report and draw a couple of takeaway points […]
Acting on a complaint in June 2016, the OSHA found employees of one of the area’s largest general contractors working in an unprotected 10-foot deep excavation at a suburban New Jersey high school, in violation of federal safety and health laws. As a result, OSHA issued citations for nine violations—one willful and eight serious—to the […]
OSHA’s fall 2016 regulatory agenda, released in late December, enumerated more than 2 dozen planned actions for the agency over the next few months. But with a Trump administration taking the reins on January 20, it remains to be seen how OSHA’s priorities will evolve under new direction.
A federal investigation prompted by the death of a 17-year-old worker at a Wisconsin company that fabricates metal trailers has resulted in multiple safety and health violations and over $100,000 in fines for the employer.
As a result of a suit filed in a U.S. District Court in Illinois, a leading maker of agricultural and construction equipment has agreed to pay a significant amount in back wages and other damages. Find out why OSHA is making an example out of this well-known employer.