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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 […]
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is developing six rule-makings considered economically significant, according to an August 8 Department of Labor (DOL) regulatory agenda notice (87 FR 48358). Two rule-makings in the “prerule” stage address process safety management (PSM) to prevent major chemical accidents and workplace violence in healthcare and social assistance. Four other […]
On July 27, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced citations for J & L Roofing Inc. of Pompano Beach, Florida, following an employee’s fatal fall and proposed $74,751 in penalties. On July 28, OSHA announced it also cited Lopez Roofing of Appleton, Wisconsin, with one repeat and one serious violation and proposed penalties […]
There is more to safety and health than dealing with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) inspections, citations, and penalties. Workers’ compensation is the other side of it. Workers’ compensation claims are much more common than OSHA inspections. Responsibility for ensuring regulatory compliance and administering workers’ compensation may sometimes fall on separate departments—environment, health, and […]
In response to a rise in trenching and excavation fatalities—22 workers have suffered fatal injuries in trenching and excavation work so far this year, surpassing the 15 fatalities in all of 2021—the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced plans for 1,000 excavation inspections. The 22 deaths represent a 68% increase over 2021. Agency compliance […]
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) area offices in Fort Lauderdale and Jacksonville, Florida, cited two employers following workplace fatalities. The agency’s Fort Lauderdale office cited Fleming Island, Florida-based Ballhawker of Florida Inc. with 12 serious violations after a 26-year-old diver drowned in a pond on a Ponte Vedra Beach golf course. OSHA is seeking […]
On June 30, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced it is extending its National Emphasis Program (NEP) for COVID-19 until further notice. The NEP was set to expire July 7. The agency also announced it is temporarily increasing its coronavirus inspection goal from 5% of inspections to 10% while it works to finalize […]
On June 30, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) proposed granting initial approval for a Massachusetts state safety and health plan covering state and local government workers (87 Federal Register (FR) 39033). The Massachusetts Department of Labor Standards (DLS) has submitted a developmental state safety and health plan for initial OSHA approval. OSHA proposed […]
On June 28, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued an advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPRM) on revisions to the agency’s construction and general industry lead standards (87 Federal Register (FR) 38343). OSHA is considering changes to the standards’ criteria for worker medical removal, as well as action levels (Als) and permissible exposure […]
In our latest installment of Ask the Expert, brought to you by the team of industry experts at EHS Hero®, we look at a recent question from a subscriber asking about OSHA’s regulations for outdoor smoking areas. See what the experts had to say. Q: What are the OSHA regulations for designated outdoor smoking areas? Are […]