By James L. Curtis, A. Scott Hecker, Adam R. Young, Patrick D. Joyce, and Craig B. Simonsen
Seyfarth Synopsis: On September 15, 2022, U.S. Department of Labor’ Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced expanded criteria for placement in its Severe Violator Enforcement Program (“SVEP”). The new criteria widens the scope of applicable violations to
Continue Reading DOL Adopts an Expanded OSHA Severe Violator Enforcement Program
By A. Scott Hecker, Adam R. Young, James L. Curtis, and Craig B. Simonsen
Seyfarth Synopsis: OSHA is highlighting trenching hazards, and their potentially-dire consequences, on its homepage.
OSHA had released CPL 02-00-161 on October 1, 2018, continuing its National Emphasis Program on Trenching and Excavation, (“NEP”), and requiring agency compliance safety and health
Continue Reading OSHA Focusing on Trenching Hazards
By A. Scott Hecker, Adam R. Young, James L. Curtis, Benjamin D. Briggs, and Craig B. Simonsen
Seyfarth Synopsis: OSHA is highlighting those employed through staffing agencies, generally called temporary or supplied workers, on its homepage. “Temporary workers” are workers supplied to a host employer and paid by a staffing agency, whether or not
Continue Reading OSHA Focuses on Temporary Worker Employer Responsibilities and Guidance
By A. Scott Hecker, Adam R. Young, James L. Curtis, and Craig B. Simonsen
Seyfarth Synopsis: The CDC has found that COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths are leveling off from their rise over the summer. The CDC advises that Americans can help prevent these numbers from increasing again by staying up to date with
Continue Reading CDC Interpretive Summary on COVID-19 for August 26, 2022
By Adam R. Young, Melissa A. Ortega, A. Scott Hecker, James L. Curtis, Brent I. Clark, Benjamin D. Briggs, Patrick D. Joyce, and Craig B. Simonsen
Seyfarth Synopsis: On August 11, 2022, the CDC, through a press release, eased its COVID-19 guidance to “help us move to a point where COVID-19 no longer
Continue Reading CDC Eases COVID-19 Guidelines
By Adam R. Young, Mark A. Lies, II, Brent I. Clark, and Craig B. Simonsen
Seyfarth Synopsis: Safety and health management systems (SHMSs) may demonstrate a commitment to improving safety and health outcomes, and reduce legal liabilities.
The federal OSHA standards mandate a series of written safety and health programs, depending on the hazards at the worksite,
Continue Reading OSHA Recommends a Safety and Health Management System — Does Your Business Need One?
By Adam R. Young, A. Scott Hecker, Patrick D. Joyce, Mark A. Lies, II, James L. Curtis, Brent I. Clark, Benjamin D. Briggs, and Craig B. Simonsen
Seyfarth Synopsis: The WHO and the CDC have updated statements and FAQs on the monkeypox disease, declaring the disease a “Public Health Emergency of International Concern.”
Continue Reading UPDATED: The U.S. Joins WHO, Declaring Monkeypox a Public Health Emergency
By Adam R. Young, A. Scott Hecker, Patrick D. Joyce, Mark A. Lies, II, James L. Curtis, Brent I. Clark, and Craig B. Simonsen
Seyfarth Synopsis: The WHO and the CDC issued statements and FAQs on the monkeypox disease, declaring the disease a “Public Health Emergency of International Concern.”
On July 23, 2022, the
Continue Reading WHO Declares Monkeypox Disease a Public Health Emergency of International Concern
By Adam R. Young, A. Scott Hecker, James L. Curtis, and Craig B. Simonsen
Seyfarth Synopsis: NIOSH reports in its recent Science Blog that “falls are the leading cause of death among construction workers.”
NIOSH notes that each year roughly 300–400 construction workers fall to their deaths, most often while working at heights on roofs, ladders,
Continue Reading Fatal Falls in Construction Account For More Than Half of All Work-Related Falls Nationally
By Samantha L. Brooks, Karla Grossenbacher, and A. Scott Hecker
Seyfarth Synopsis: On July 12, 2022, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission issued updated guidance for employers on the interplay of workplace bias laws and COVID-19 workplace testing, vaccinations, and other return-to-work issues, including reasonable accommodations and access to employees’ confidential medical information. Employers continue to face these
Continue Reading In Policy Pivot, EEOC Revises Pandemic Guidance To Move Away From A “Direct Threat” Analysis and Focus on “Business Necessity” As Employers Return Employees To The Workplace