The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has published new guidance requiring employers covered by OSHA’s recordkeeping standards to determine whether employees have contracted COVID-19 while at work. In an effort “to provide certainty to employers and workers,” beginning on May 26, 2020, the agency is requiring all employers to record all COVID-19 cases that: … Continue Reading
With many restaurants limited to offering food and beverage carryout and curbside pickup options because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has published guidelines suggesting best practices to prevent the spread of COVID-19. To prevent exposures with customers, OSHA recommends that food and beverage vendors: Avoid direct hand-offs when possible; … Continue Reading
While the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and some states have offered guidance to prevent employee exposure to COVID-19, Los Angeles, the state of New York, and New York City are enforcing more restrictive measures for construction sites. Based on guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Los Angeles … Continue Reading
Construction workers received guidance on best practices in preventing the spread of novel coronavirus from New York City. The city has recognized that ordinary practices at construction sites – shared tools, huddled shift meetings and packed schedules with varied trade contractors – can present unique dangers at construction sites. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration … Continue Reading
You might be surprised to learn that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) enforces 22 different whistleblower protection laws. This includes laws governing workplace safety and health at construction, manufacturing, energy generation or distribution and other worksites. It also includes a broad array of laws that regulate hazards and prohibited activities specific to airlines, … Continue Reading
Assistant Secretary of Labor for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration Dr. David Michaels has appointed Beth Slavet as the new director of the agency’s Whistleblower Protection Program. Ms. Slavet is an employment attorney who has specialized in representing unions, Foreign Service employees and other government workers, with a focus on whistleblower protection. Her appointment … Continue Reading
Now that we know President Barack Obama will remain in office for the next four years, he and and the federal agencies responsible for enforcing the nation’s workplace laws likely will continue to pursue a number of pro-employee initiatives. A sampling is provided here.… Continue Reading
With the presidential election just a few days away, there is a lot of uncertainty on the future direction of OSHA. If President Obama wins a second term, employers should expect to see a more active OSHA from the regulatory perspective, as many rules that could impact the employers are poised to be published in … Continue Reading
As Hurricane Sandy bears down on the East Coast, we wanted to highlight some key sources of information for hurricane preparedness and response: OSHA Guidance CDC Guidance FEMA Guidance Employers affected by the storm should review their emergency preparedness plans and these sources of information to ensure their employees are fully protected. … Continue Reading
Click here to access the Summer 2011 edition of the Workplace Safety and Health Reporter. The Reporter highlights recent safety and health developments across the country. We hope you find the newsletter informative.… Continue Reading
We thought you would be interested in the following article highlighting the Top Ten OSHA Developments Affecting Employers published this month on the Association of Corporate Counsel website.… Continue Reading
