The Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and Health (“ACCSH”) is an advisory body that provides advice and assistance to OSHA regarding construction standards. There are 15 members of this advisory committee comprising representatives for employers, employees, federal, state and public representatives. ACCSH generally meets two to four times a year.
ACCSH recently met in December
Pursuant to a settlement agreement reached with the Edison Electric Institute (“EEI”), the Utility Line-Clearance Coalition (“ULCC”) and the Tree Care Industry Association (“TCIA”), OSHA has agreed to extend several compliance dates for the new standards on electrical power generation, transmission and distribution installations for both general industry and construction.
On April 11, 2014 OSHA
Recently, Jordan Barab, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor for the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration spoke at the U.S. Small Business Labor Safety (OSHA/MSHA) Roundtable meeting held in Washington, DC. Mr. Barab provided an update on OSHA’s regulatory agenda and rulemaking activities that would likely have an impact on small businesses. Mr. Barab divided
In a January 23, 2015 letter to the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission (“Review Commission” or “OSHRC”), the agency that adjudicates contested OSHA citations, several unions, including the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health (National COSH), North America’s Building Trades Unions (Building Trades), Change to Win and the United Steel, Paper and
OSHA is coming under criticism because of changes it has made to its Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP). The details were outlined in a memorandum to Regional Administrators dated November 24, 2014. However, opponents to the changes are upset because the memorandum was not posted on OSHA’s website and the decision to limit
Starting January 1, 2015, the process for abatement of California OSHA (“Cal-OSHA”) citations changed. In short, the new law, A.B. 1634, signed by California Governor Jerry Brown in September 2014, prohibits Cal-OSHA (“the Division”) from making penalty modifications to citations unless the alleged violation has been abated and requires employers to abate citations during the
On January 1, 2015, OSHA’s new reporting requirements became effective. Under the new reporting requirements contained in Section 1904.39 employers are now required to report to OSHA any work-related hospitalization of one or more employee, an amputation, an eye loss or fatality.
In a December 16, 2014 interpretation letter, OSHA responded to a question on
Stepping outside this week is a biting reminder that winter has arrived. OSHA has updated its website with information about winter hazards and the steps that can be taken to protect employees. Although there is no specific standard covering winter weather, employees are protected by the Occupational Safety and Health Act (1970) General Duty Clause
In a letter of interpretation to Ms. Linda Ballas dated December 12, 2014, OSHA clarified that the use of kinesiology tape is considered medical treatment for OSHA recordkeeping purposes and is, therefore, recordable when used to treat a work-related injury.
Under 29 CFR Part 1904 – Recording and Reporting Occupational Injuries and Illnesses, treatment of
On December 4, 2014, OSHA held an Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and Health (“ACCSH”) meeting. ACCSH is an advisory body that provides advice and assistance to OSHA regarding construction standards. There are 15 members of this advisory committee and the committee is comprised of representatives for employers, employees, federal, state and public representatives.
In