Recent confirmations at the Department of Labor (DOL) mark a new phase for federal workplace safety and health oversight. With David Keeling now leading the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Wayne Palmer heading the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), both agencies are expected to adjust their regulatory and enforcement priorities. Employers should
BREAKING NEWS: OSHA, MSHA to Publish 30+ Proposed Rules July 1
By Lisa B. Marsh, Sierra Vierra & Douglas E. Solomon on
Tomorrow (July 1, 2025), OSHA and MSHA will publish over 30 proposed rules, many of which request public comment, in the Federal Register. Included in OSHA’s slate of proposed rules is a Rescission of Coordinated Enforcement Regulations, and a proposed clarification of its Interpretation of the General Duty Clause.
Jackson Lewis is monitoring these…
MSHA Issues Long Awaited Final Silica Rule
By Karl F. Kumli on
The Mine Safety and Health Administration (“MSHA”) released its long-anticipated silica rule on Tuesday, April 16, 2024. (See the rule here) The rule is aimed at reducing miners’ exposure to respirable crystalline silica, otherwise known as silica or quartz dust. The final version of the rule is mostly consistent with the version MSHA…
House Members Promoting Legislation to Compel MSHA to Issue Emergency Temporary Standard for Pandemic Safety
By Brian P. Lundgren on
The Mine Safety and Health Administration (“MSHA”) has declined to issue an Emergency Temporary Standard (“ETS”) to address pandemic safety for miners. MSHA determined that issuance of an ETS was unnecessary for COVID-19 because MSHA’s existing health and safety standards allow MSHA to require mine operators to take action to abate COVID-19 health hazards in…