Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) recently reintroduced a bill that would amend the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970. The proposed Protecting America’s Workers Act (“PAWA”) (S. 665) would expand coverage to more workers, increase whistleblower protections, significantly enhance the civil and criminal penalties issued against employers for violations, and would provide rights to victims
OSHA Legislation
OSHA Issues Regulatory Agenda
OSHA recently issued its long-awaited regulatory agenda. The agenda is designed to provide stakeholders with notice of what major regulatory initiatives the agency is planning and the projected timetables for those initiatives.
OSHA’s agenda is the first issued in several months by the agency and provides a glimpse into the regulatory priorities – in…
Nevada Law Bans Cell Phone Use While Driving
Joining a growing number of states and localities across the country, Nevada has banned cell phone use while driving. Click here for the full story.
New Connecticut Law Requires Health Care Employers to Address Workplace Violence
Click here to read this recent Jackson Lewis article on a new Connecticut law requiring health care employers to develop and implement plans, policies, and training programs to prevent and respond to workplace violence incidents. Putting aside the issue of whether such a law is preempted by the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, health…
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration at 40
OSHA is 40 this year and the Agency is looking back on its history and "celebrating" its accomplishments. OSHA recently issued a timeline that stretches all the way back to December 29, 1970, when the Occupational Safety and Health Act was signed, and highlights Agency accomplishments up to the present.
Not surprisingly, the timeline is heavily…
New California Law Creates Rebuttable Presumption of Serious Workplace Safety Violations
A new state law makes it easier for the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) to classify workplace safety violations as “serious” for purposes of issuing citations and proposed penalties to employers. Assembly Bill 2774, signed by Governor Schwarzenegger in September 2010, broadens the definition of “serious violation” and establishes specific procedures for Cal/OSHA…
New Bill Proposes Major Overhaul of Occupational Safety and Health Act
On Wednesday, July 21, the House Education and Labor Committee approved "H.R. 5663, The Robert C. Byrd Miner Safety and Health Act." While this bill is primarily focused on overhauling mine safety laws, one section would make drastic changes to the Occupational Safety and Health Act. If enacted, these changes will have a significant impact on employers across the country.…
Employees May Store Firearms, Ammunition in Locked Vehicles under New Indiana Law
Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels has signed into law the “Possession of Firearms and Ammunition in Locked Vehicles Law.” The law bars employers from adopting any rule or policy prohibiting employees, including contract employees, from storing firearms and ammunition out-of-sight in their locked vehicles. Effective July 1, 2010, the law applies only to persons who may…
Concussions in Professional Athletes: Is There a Role for OSHA?
Over the past three months, the media has been fixated on concussions in professional football players. Some of the National Football League’s top players – Ben Roethlisberger, Kurt Warner, Clinton Portis – have recently been sidelined for concussions sustained on the playing field. After Ben Roethlisberger of the Pittsburgh Steelers was held out for an important game against…
Pandemic Protection Act Adds to Growing Congressional Concern over H1N1
Employers may be required to provide seven days of paid sick time per year under a bill introduced in Congress. The measure, titled the Pandemic Protection for Workers, Families, and Businesses Act (H.R. 4092/S. 2790), was introduced by Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) in the House and Senator Christopher Dodd (D-Conn.) in the Senate on the…