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OIG to OSHA: Plan for better collaboration with other agencies during health and safety crises

Washington — Understaffed amid the COVID-19 pandemic, OSHA “lost a valuable opportunity” to better protect workers by “not identifying federal partners in a position to assist during a large-scale safety and health crisis,” concludes a Department of Labor Office of Inspector General audit report released March 31.




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Fall-related deaths and injuries in construction spur OSHA weekend inspection initiative

Denver — Deaths and serious injuries resulting from falls in the construction industry in recent years have prompted OSHA to launch an initiative to inspect worksites across Colorado’s Front Range, Montana and South Dakota on weekends, “when many employers typically do not monitor their jobsites well.”




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OSHA Inspections: Are You Prepared?

Read this free white paper from J. J. Keller to learn what to expect and how to handle an inspection with confidence. It covers everything from examining records and interviewing employees to a complete facility walkthrough, the citation process and more.




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Chemical Safety Board calls on OSHA to provide guidance on process hazard analysis

Washington — OSHA should develop guidance on the process hazard analysis element of its standard on process safety management of highly hazardous chemicals (1910.119), the Chemical Safety Board recommends in a final report on an April 2018 explosion and fire at a Wisconsin refinery.




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New OSHA enforcement guidance targets employers who prioritize profit over safety

Washington — Safety scofflaws may face increased citations and penalties under an OSHA policy set to go into effect in March.




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OSHA says its new authority to issue nonimmigrant status visas will aid investigations

Washington — OSHA will soon be able to issue certifications in support of T and U nonimmigrant status visas, a move the agency contends will aid in some workplace safety investigations.




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OSHA emphasis program targets the auto parts supplier industry

Atlanta — Hazards in the auto parts supplier industry “continue to be the source of serious injuries, including amputations, and deaths to employees,” OSHA says.




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OSHA disagrees with many findings in recent DOL OIG audit report

Washington — OSHA’s Field Operations Manual needs an update so the agency can “better address complaints and referrals,” the Department of Labor Office of Inspector General says.




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OSHA emphasis program targets fall hazards

Washington — OSHA has launched a National Emphasis Program aimed at reducing and preventing falls in all industries.




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OSHA proposal on worker walkaround representation under White House review

Washington — OSHA is seeking to revive an Obama administration policy that would allow workers to designate someone who doesn’t work for their employer – including someone from a union or other organization – to represent them during an OSHA “walkaround” inspection.




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OSHA issues proposed rule on worker walkaround representation

Washington — OSHA is accepting comment on a proposed rule that would let workers designate someone who doesn’t work for their employer to represent them during an OSHA “walkaround” inspection.




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Injury and illness rates in warehouses are too high, OIG tells OSHA

Washington — OSHA hasn’t “effectively addressed” elevated injury and illness rates in the warehousing industry, the Department of Labor Office of Inspector General contends.




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OSHA extends comment period for proposed rule on walkaround representation

Washington — OSHA has pushed to Nov. 13 the deadline for comment on its proposal to allow workers to designate someone who doesn’t work for their employer to represent them during OSHA “walkaround” inspections.




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OSHA extends emphasis programs in the mid-Atlantic region

Philadelphia — OSHA Region 3 has renewed a series of regional and local emphasis programs, which include a focus on fall hazards in the construction industry.




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OSHA proposal on worker walkaround representation draws partisan comments

Washington — A pair of lawmakers from opposites sides of the aisle, along with a coalition of organizations, express opposing viewpoints in comments on OSHA’s proposed rule on worker walkaround representation.




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OSHA final rule on worker walkaround representation under White House review

Washington — OSHA’s rule on worker walkaround representation is undergoing a final review, according to the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs website.




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OSHA set to publish final rule on worker walkaround representation

Washington — OSHA’s final rule on worker walkaround representation is set to go into effect May 31.




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Employer coalition supports effort to repeal OSHA’s walkaround rule

Washington — A coalition of nearly 60 employer groups is urging members of the House to support a resolution intended to repeal OSHA’s final rule on worker walkaround representation.




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Allegations of tip-offs about OSHA inspections prompt lawmakers’ letter

Washington — A pair of House Democrats are calling on acting Labor Secretary Julie Su to address recent allegations that officials from two State Plan agencies are giving employers advance notice of workplace safety inspections.




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OSHA emphasis program targets Colorado cannabis industry

Denver — A new Local Emphasis Program from OSHA is aimed at identifying and reducing workplace hazards associated with cannabis processing, growing, cultivation and product manufacturing.




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Fall Protection remains atop OSHA’s annual ‘Top 10’ list of most frequently cited standards

Orlando, FL — For the 14th consecutive fiscal year, Fall Protection – General Requirements is OSHA’s most frequently cited standard, the agency and Safety+Health announced during the 2024 NSC Safety Congress & Expo.




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OSHA Safety Training Basics: What You Need to Know

This free white paper contains useful tips and insights from J. J. Keller experts to help you understand the training requirements that apply to your organization. It covers important topics such as OSHA expectations, refresher training, recordkeeping and more.




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Top OSHA Training Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Download a new white paper featuring valuable tips and insights from J. J. Keller’s experts to ensure your OSHA training program is effective and compliant. Learn how to identify your training needs, avoid common missteps and more.




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OSHA urges employers, workers to be safe when removing snow

Washington – Although winter is coming to an end, OSHA is reminding employers and workers to be cautious when removing snow from roofs and other structures.




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Improving indoor ventilation ‘critical’ during cold weather, OSHA says

Washington — Citing the increased circulation of airborne viruses when temperatures drop, “indoor air quality in the workplace during cold weather is especially critical,” OSHA says in a new alert.




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COVID-19 pandemic: Michigan OSHA launches emphasis program on office worker protections, remote work policies

Lansing, MI — Michigan OSHA has launched a state emphasis program focused on protecting workers in office settings, where community spread of COVID-19 is a risk.




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Avoid MSDs while working remotely: New tip sheet from EU-OSHA

Bilbao, Spain — Promoting good musculoskeletal health among remote workers and their employers is the goal of a new fact sheet from the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, also known as EU-OSHA.




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MIOSHA takes aim at hazards encountered during blight removal

Lansing, MI – The Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration is looking to protect workers from hazards linked to asbestos, lead and cadmium that may be encountered during blight removal projects, as part of a one-year state emphasis program launched in September.




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OSHA offers resources on limiting lead exposure for workers at indoor firing ranges

Washington — OSHA has published a fact sheet and Quick Card intended to help employers protect workers from exposure to lead at indoor firing ranges.




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OSHA seeks to revise rules on workplace lead exposure

Washington — OSHA is requesting public comment on a proposed rule that would revise the agency’s standards on occupational exposure to lead in general industry and construction.




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OSHA extends comment period on proposal to amend rules on workplace lead exposure

Washington — In response to multiple stakeholder requests, OSHA has extended until Oct. 28 the comment period on a proposed rule that would revise the agency’s standards on occupational exposure to lead in general industry and construction.




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OSHA extends emphasis program on COVID-19

Washington — Citing data that shows hospitalizations “may increase significantly in the coming weeks,” OSHA has extended its revised National Emphasis Program on COVID-19 until further notice.




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Protecting workers from monkeypox: Cal/OSHA issues guidance

Sacramento, CA — New guidance from the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health is aimed at protecting workers from monkeypox – a viral disease that spreads mostly through close, intimate contact with someone who’s infected.




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Monkeypox virus: New fact sheet from OSHA

Washington — In an effort to prevent work-related transmission of the monkeypox virus, OSHA is urging employers and workers whose jobs may involve skin-to-skin contact with infected people or animals to take precautions.




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OSHA sends standard on COVID-19 for health care to OMB for final review

Washington — OSHA submitted its permanent standard on COVID-19 for the health care industry to the White House Office of Management and Budget for final review Dec. 7.




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OSHA wants input on protecting health care workers from violence

Washington — OSHA is requesting feedback as it considers developing a possible standard aimed at preventing workplace violence in the health care and social assistance industries.




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Ergo group calls for OSHA standard on MSDs in health care

Washington — An OSHA standard on safe patient handling and mobility could reduce musculoskeletal disorders among health care workers, the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society says in a new policy statement.




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OSHA proposed rule on infectious diseases moves closer to publication

Washington — OSHA’s proposed rule on infectious diseases in “health care and other high-risk environments” has been submitted to the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs for final review.




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Attorneys general re-issue call for OSHA emergency standard on heat

Washington — A coalition of attorneys general is re-petitioning OSHA to issue an emergency temporary standard aimed at protecting workers from heat exposure.




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Company criminally charged for issuing fraudulent OSHA training cards after worker dies

New York — The New York State Supreme Court has indicted a company for operating a “sham safety training school” connected to the death of a “trainee” on a construction site.




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A severed lanyard leads to a fatal fall – and an OSHA alert

Washington — Prompted by the death of a worker whose fall protection lanyard was severed by an exposed edge as he fell, OSHA has issued a hazard alert.




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Oregon OSHA releases free course on confined space safety

Salem, OR — Oregon OSHA is offering for free its latest training course on keeping workers safe in confined spaces.




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OSHA launches and extends several Regional Emphasis Programs

Washington — Three OSHA regions have continued or established a set of emphasis programs, the agency recently announced.




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OSHA construction advisory committee and workgroups to meet this month

Washington — Hearing conservation and women in construction are among the topics scheduled for discussion during an upcoming Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and Health meeting.




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Now in Spanish: Oregon OSHA course on confined space safety

Salem, OR — Oregon OSHA has launched a Spanish version of its training course on keeping workers safe in confined spaces.




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OSHA renews emphasis programs in the Northeast

Boston — OSHA’s Boston regional office recently renewed some of its Regional Emphasis Programs.




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DOL renews charter for OSHA’s construction advisory committee

Washington — Acting Labor Secretary Julie Su has renewed the two-year charter for OSHA’s Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and Health.




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OSHA: Death investigations down 11% in FY 2024

Washington — OSHA conducted fewer fatality investigations this past fiscal year than in FY 2023, and recorded fewer deaths involving trench collapses and falls – two hazards on which the agency has focused its enforcement resources.




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Safety sign standards: OSHA vs. ANSI

What are the differences between OSHA and ANSI safety sign standards?




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OSHA compliance

How can I make sure that my OSHA-required respiratory protection program is up to date?