Late today, the Senate voted 50-48 to adopt H.J. Res 83, nullifying OSHA’s rule “Clarification of Employer’s Continuing Obligation to Make and Maintain Accurate Records of Each Recordable Injury and Illness,” informally referred to as the “Volks” rule.
Articles Discussing General Topics Under OSHA.
Top 10 OSHA Citations for 2016
The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration publishes a list annually of its top 10 most frequently cited alleged violations. The list changes little from year to year, but it is worthwhile for employers to review the list and consider whether extra attention should be paid to specific potential hazards in the workplace.
House of Representatives Votes to Block OSHA Recordkeeping Rule
The House of Representatives has voted to block a new Occupational Safety and Health Administration recordkeeping rule implemented in the last weeks of the Obama Administration. “Clarification of Employer’s Continuing Obligation to Make and Maintain an Accurate Record of Each Recordable Injury and Illness” was published in the Federal Register on December 19, 2016, and became effective on January 18, 2017.
OSHA Will Partner with Labor Organizations, Trade Associations, and Individual Employers to Train and Protect Workers
OSHA’s Strategic Partnership Program (OSPP) for Worker Safety and Health is a federal initiative that seeks to reduce occupational fatalities, injuries, and illnesses as well as improve worker protections by engaging labor organizations, employer groups, individual employers and others in formal, cooperative relationships with OSHA to carry out the purposes of the Occupational Safety and Health Act.
Senate Votes to Disapprove Obama-Era Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces Executive Order
The U.S. Senate has passed, by a single-vote margin, a joint resolution previously passed by the U.S. House that “disapproves” President Barack Obama’s 2014 Executive Order 13673: Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces, often called the “blacklisting” executive order. (For more on Executive Order 13673, see our articles, ‘Blacklisting’ Rules for Government Contractors Proposed by Federal Agencies under Executive Order and DOL and FAR Council Publish Final ‘Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces’ Rules for Government Contractors.)
OSHA Identifies 10 Most Cited Safety and Health Violations
The Occupational and Safety and Health Administration released a preliminary list of the 10 most frequently cited safety and health violations for 2016, compiled from about 32,000 inspections of workplaces by federal OSHA staff.
Signs that OSHA Priorities are Shifting Under the Trump Administration?
There are new developments related to OSHA’s Electronic Recordkeeping Rule and the Volks Rule. As a reminder, the Electronic Recordkeeping Rule requires certain employers to electronically file their OSHA recordkeeping data with OSHA as well as heightens scrutiny related to both drug testing and safety incentive programs. The Volks Rule essentially reversed the decision held in AKM LLC dba Volks Constructors v. Secretary of Labor, 675 F.3d 752 (DC Cir. 2012) (the “Volks Decision”) that limited OSHA’s ability to cite recordkeeping violations to six months.
What to Expect from OSHA Under President Trump
Republican administrations tend to put more emphasis on helping employers comply with Occupational Safety and Health Administration requirements than on punitive enforcement actions. President Trump is familiar with OSHA because contractors on his construction sites have had run-ins with the agency, so it is even more likely that his Department of Labor will prioritize educational and voluntary programs over high-profile fines and litigation.
Establish a Strong OSHA Defense Before an Inspector Shows Up
In most instances, an OSHA inspector will arrive at your door unannounced. Among other things, the inspector will present his or her credentials, say why he or she is there, and then ask for your consent to conduct an inspection. The actual inspection and a closing conference will follow, along with the issuance of any citations within six months of any violations.
OSHA 300A Summaries Should be Completed and Posted by Now
The 300A log summarizes any work-related injuries and illnesses employees experienced during 2016, and it must be completed and posted even if no injuries or illnesses occurred during the year.
OSHA Issues Final Rule to Protect Workers from Beryllium Exposure
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has issued a final rule “to prevent chronic beryllium disease and lung cancer” in workers by limiting their exposure to beryllium and beryllium compounds. Beryllium and beryllium compounds are used in the aerospace, shipyard, electronics, energy, telecommunication, medical, and defense industries.
OSHA Emphasizes Worker Safety in Sustainability
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has argued in a new “white paper” that employers should include worker safety as part of their “sustainability” calculations.
OSHA Mandates That Certain Employers Report Accidents Electronically
Effective January 1, 2017, OSHA requires that establishments with 20 to 249 employees in certain high-risk industries, including construction, manufacturing and building material and supplies dealers, submit their injury and illness summary (Form 300A) data to it electronically. Their 2016 Form 300A must be submitted by July 1, 2017 and their 2017 Form 300A must be submitted by July 1, 2018. Establishments with 250 or more employees in industries covered by the record keeping regulation also must submit information from their 2016 Form 300A by July 1, 2017. These same employers will be required to submit information from all 2017 forms (300A, 300 and 301) by July 1, 2018.
Farewell Dr. Michaels
Dr. David Michaels, the Assistant Secretary for OSHA, announced that today, January 10th, would be his last day with the agency. He will be returning to academia at George Washington University beginning January 17th. And, on this last day, he continued what has been a very aggressive regulatory agenda by announcing that he was accepting a coalition of unions’ petition for the creation of an OSHA standard related to workplace violence in healthcare.
OSHA Requests Information on Prevention of Workplace Violence in Healthcare and Social Assistance
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 or clients.”