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The construction industry fall protection standard remains the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) most frequently cited standard for the 12th year in a row, the agency announced on September 20. Patrick Kapust, acting director of OSHA’s Directorate of Enforcement Programs, presented a list of preliminary figures for fiscal year (FY) 2022—the fiscal year ends September […]
On September 8, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced the awarding of approximately $1.9 million in grants to 14 nonprofits to fund education and training programs to help workers and employers recognize infectious disease hazards, including the coronavirus, and identify workplace safety measures. In addition to its standard-setting and enforcement authority, OSHA also […]
Back to Basics is a weekly feature that highlights important but possibly overlooked information that any EHS professional should know. This week, we examine OSHA’s standards for confined spaces. Confined spaces are defined by OSHA as spaces that are not necessarily designed for people, but are large enough that workers can go inside and perform […]
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) will co-host an excavation and trenching safety training event September 16 in Southlake, Texas, with the North Texas National Utility Contractors Association (NUCA North Texas). In July, OSHA announced plans for 1,000 site inspections to address a rise in trenching and excavation fatalities. In the first six months […]
With the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) National Emphasis Program (NEP) on Outdoor and Indoor Related Hazards being effective as of April 8, 2022, employers are advised to take note of the program’s instructions to avoid “largely preventable” heat-related illnesses. “Despite widespread under-reporting, 43 workers died from heat illness in 2019, and at least […]
Back to Basics is a weekly feature that highlights important but possibly overlooked information that any EHS professional should know. This week, we examine ergonomic hazards, solutions, and musculoskeletal disorder prevention. Ergonomics is defined by OSHA as “fitting a job to a person,” and it can help lessen muscle fatigue, increase productivity, and reduce the […]
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is weighing changes to its process safety management (PSM) standard, including expanding it to include oil- and gas-well drilling and servicing, according to the agency’s August 30 announcement of an informal stakeholder meeting (87 Federal Register (FR) 53020). The PSM standard, which requires employers to implement safety programs […]
On August 17, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) Region 3 office announced a regional emphasis program (REP) of outreach, inspection, and enforcement for warehouse operations that includes a focus on ergonomic and heat hazards. In response to the ongoing growth of e-commerce, the REP focuses on employers in Delaware, the District of Columbia, […]
On August 12, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced a limited reopening of comment on the agency’s proposed revocation of approval for Arizona’s workplace safety and health program (87 Federal Register (FR) 50025). The federal agency also postponed a public hearing on the issue. On April 21, the agency proposed revoking its final […]
On August 18, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) approved Massachusetts’ developmental health and safety program (87 Federal Register (FR) 50766). OSHA has determined Massachusetts’ program will be at least as effective as the federal program in protecting the safety and health of state and local government workers. The initial approval is based on […]