OSHA Rulemaking

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In the face of mounting evidence of the widespread extent of workplace violence in the healthcare and social assistance sector, OSHA announced in the Federal Register on December 7th, 2016, that it is assessing the need for “a standard aimed at preventing workplace violence in healthcare and social assistance workplaces perpetrated by patients…

On November 17, 2016, OSHA issued a final rule revising and updating its general industry Walking-Working Surfaces standards specific to slip, trip, and fall hazards. The final rule includes revised and new provisions addressing fixed ladders, rope descent systems, and fall protection systems. The rule also establishes requirements on the design, performance and use of personal fall protection systems in general industry. In addition, employers must now train employees on identifying and minimizing fall hazards, using fall protection systems and maintaining, inspecting and storing fall protection equipment.

The final rule allows employers to select the fall protection system that works best for their environment, instead of requiring the use of guardrail systems, which the current rule mandates. Employers now can choose from a range of accepted options, including personal fall arrest, safety new system, ladder safety systems, travel restraint and work position systems. OSHA has permitted the use of personal fall protection systems in construction since 1994 and the final rule adopts similar requirements for general industry.Continue Reading OSHA Finally Issues Walking-Working Surfaces Rule

In response to a request from a federal judge, OSHA has agreed to extend the effective date of the anti-retaliation provisions in it’s new final rule, Improve Tracking of Workplace Injuries and Illnesses until December 1, 2016.

The provisions were originally set to become effective in August and that date was further extended to November…

Last week a federal judge requested that OSHA agree to further extend the November 1st effective date for the anti-retaliation provisions in OSHA’s “Improve Tracking of Workplace Injuries and Illnesses” also known as the Electronic Recordkeeping rule.

In May 2016, OSHA published the final rule requiring electronic submission of Part 1904 recordkeeping records …

Last week, OSHA’s proposed rule for Walking-Working Surfaces and Personal Protective Equipment (Fall Protection Systems) in General Industry (Subpart D and Subpart I) cleared the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB), signaling the forthcoming final publication by OSHA.

This rule has been in the making since 1990 when OSHA originally issued the proposed…

Dr. David Michaels, Assistant Secretary of Labor for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, issued a new report, discussing the results of the first year of the severe injury reporting requirements. The report concludes that the severe injury reporting program has been a big success in improving safety and health in workplaces across the United…

Under the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 OSHA was required to adjust civil penalties for violations of safety and health standards on or before July 1, 2016.  The Bipartisan Budget Act allowed OSHA  a one time “catch-up” to adjust for inflation since 1990. On July 1, 2016, OSHA announced the new maximum civil penalties which…

It’s that time of year again…when OSHA tells us what is on the horizon for rulemaking activity. On May 18, 2016 the spring semiannual regulatory agenda for federal agencies was published. This Regulatory Agenda provides a complete list of all regulatory actions that are under active consideration for promulgation, proposal, or review and covers regulatory…

OSHA first proposed a rule on Slips, Trips and Falls in 1990.  Since that time, many employers have taken advantage of this proposed rule in making certain arguments related to Citations issued under Subpart D, the Walking-Working Surfaces regulations.  If you never used this argument, you may be wondering how a proposed rule could help…