OSHA Insights Blog
US Department of Labor Announces Annual Adjustments to OSHA Civil Penalties for 2024
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced the annual increases to their fine schedule for 2024. These changes took effect on January 16th, 2024. The increases follow the 2015 Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act to...
OSHA’s Proposed Expansion in Emergency Responder Safety
OSHA has announced its proposal to overhaul and expand protections for emergency responders. The proposed "Emergency Response" standard will issue in early 2024 and will replace the current "Fire Brigades" standard, as OSHA contends that the current regulations are...
OSHA’s Shift From Hard Hats to Safety Helmets Should Raise Concern for Employers
OSHA recently announced a significant change in its head protection policy, and is transitioning from traditional hard hats to safety helmets for its employees. This move is more than just an internal policy shift, and signals a broader push that will soon affect all...
OSHA—Critical Updates for 2023 & 2024
OSHA has been particularly busy and aggressive lately, making good on Biden Administration promises and talking points—hiring more inspectors, appointing new administrators, conducting more inspections, aggressively issuing citations, adopting and expanding emphasis...
Department of Labor’s proposed rule vastly broadens the definition of third-party representatives at OSHA inspections
The Department of Labor has proposed a new rule amending who can be designated as a representative by employees to accompany OSHA compliance officers during workplace inspections. The proposed rule clarifies that employees have the right to authorize not only fellow...
Department of Labor Proposes Clarification of Construction PPE Standards
The U.S. Department of Labor has announced a notice of proposed rulemaking to clarify the personal protective equipment (PPE) standard for the construction industry. In its press release, the Department argued that the current standard does not state clearly that PPE...
Department of Labor Announces New Invasive Rule Requiring Yearly Disclosures of 300 and 301 Injury and Illness Logs by Employers in High-hazard Industries
Resurrecting a rule that it attempted—but failed—to implement years ago, the Department of Labor has announced a new rule that will require certain employers in high-hazard industries to electronically submit injury and illness information. The rule applies to...
The Department of Labor has announced a new national emphasis program to prevent hazards in high-risk workplaces
Link to the full text of the program: https://www.osha.gov/sites/default/files/enforcement/directives/CPL_03-00-026.pdf Summary: OSHA is launching a new three-year initiative it claims is intended to prevent workplace hazards in warehouses, processing facilities,...
US Department of Labor announces national emphasis program to reduce, prevent workplace falls, a leading cause of workplace fatalities
The US Department of Labor announced that OSHA has begun a National Emphasis Program to prevent falls, the leading cause of fatal workplace injuries. In 2021 alone there were 5,190 workplace injuries and 680 of them were from falls. The program establishes guidance...
Big Labor Partisan Julie Su Nominated to Run the Department of Labor
President Biden announced his nomination for the head of the Department of Labor to be Julie Su. As the deputy secretary these last two years she built a reputation for prioritizing union interests over those of individual workers or flexible business models. Notably,...