By Benjamin D. BriggsA. Scott Hecker, Adam R. Young, and Craig B. Simonsen

Seyfarth Synopsis: CDC’s new COVID-19 Quarantine and Isolation calculator “takes the stress out of deciding when, and for how long, individuals with COVID-19 and close contacts need to stay home, get tested, and wear a well-fitting mask.”

The new CDC calculator may
Continue Reading CDC Publishes New Quarantine and Isolation Calculator

By Benjamin D. BriggsAdam R. Young, A. Scott Hecker, and Craig B. Simonsen

Seyfarth Synopsis: The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has reopened its rulemaking record and scheduled an informal public hearing to seek comments on specific topics that relate to the development of a permanent OSHA standard to protect healthcare and healthcare support
Continue Reading Rulemaking Continues on New OSHA COVID-19 Permanent Standard to Protect Healthcare Workers

By James L. Curtis, Brent I. ClarkMark A. LiesAdam YoungPatrick D. Joyce, A. Scott Hecker, and Craig B. Simonsen

Seyfarth Synopsis: The U.S. Department of Labor reported today that “U.S. healthcare workers experienced a staggering 249 percent increase in injury and illness rates in 2020, based on employer-reported data, as
Continue Reading OSHA To Address Soaring Injury Rates at Healthcare Facilities

By Brent I. Clark and Ilana R. Morady

iStock_000076487827_LargeExpedited Hearings

A hot topic today is developments in the law of California OSHA (Cal-OSHA). Panel members are discussing the new and controversial rule on expedited proceedings under 8 CCR 373. Under the expedited proceedings rule, cases are put on a fast track when abatement has been appealed or abatement has not
Continue Reading Update from the ABA OSHA Conference — Cal-OSHA Developments

By Brent I. Clark, Kerry M. Mohan, and Craig B. Simonsen

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) has issued a Safety Advisory, 79 Fed. Reg. 64646 (October 30, 2014), to provide guidance on the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR), 49 CFR, parts 171–180, for persons who prepare, offer, and transport materials contaminated
Continue Reading Safety Advisory on Handling and Transporting Materials Suspected of Being Contaminated with Ebola

Starting January 1, 2015, OSHA’s recordkeeping rules will undergo a change to two key provisions.

One, a number of industries that were previously not required to keep OSHA injury and illness records will now have to maintain a log to comply with OSHA standards, and two, the list of severe work-related injuries and hospitalizations that must be reported to OSHA
Continue Reading Webinar on OSHA Recordkeeping: Civil and Criminal Liabilities in 2015

By James L. Curtis and Craig B. Simonsen

In a stunning finding, after public hearings, OSHA has concluded, based on “many stakeholders expressed concern,” that its illness reporting requirements proposal “could motivate employers to under-record injuries and illnesses.” 79 Fed. Reg. 47605 (August 14, 2014).

As we noted in an earlier blog (OSHA Shame Game Continues: Its Plan to
Continue Reading In Stunning Finding OSHA Concludes that Record Keeping Proposal Could Motivate Employers to Under-Record Injuries and Illnesses

By James L. Curtis and Craig B. Simonsen

OSHA recently announced its Campaign to Prevent Heat Illness in Outdoor Workers to remind employers and employees of the hazards of heat illness.

As OSHA states “thousands of employees become sick each year and many die from working in the heat. In 2012, there were 31 heat-related worker deaths and 4,120 heat-related
Continue Reading “Water. Rest. Shade.” OSHA Campaign to Prevent Heat Illness in Outdoor Workers

By James L. Curtis, Kerry M. Mohan, and Craig B. Simonsen

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced yesterday that it will extend the comment period thirty days, to March 8, 2014, on its proposed rule to “improve workplace safety and health through improved tracking of workplace injuries and illnesses.” 79 Fed. Reg. 778 (January 7, 2014).

As we
Continue Reading Comment Period Extended for OSHA’s Proposed Rule to Publish Injury Rates For Employers With Over 250 Employees

By Brent I. Clark and Kerry M. Mohan

On November 7, 2013, OSHA announced a proposed rule regarding its injury and illness recordkeeping requirements that would make employee injury and illness records public. 78 Fed. Reg. 67254 (Nov. 8, 2013).

Currently, employers with eleven or more employees are required to keep and maintain OSHA 300, 300A, and 301 injury and
Continue Reading OSHA Shame Game Continues: Its Plan to Publish Injury Rates For Employers With Over 250 Employees