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
By Adam R. Young, A. Scott Hecker, Brent I. Clark, and Craig B. Simonsen
Seyfarth Synopsis: Omicron BA5 strain has become dominant and has evolved to render vaccinations and boosters less effective, resulting in many employers revisiting their COVID-19 policies.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19,
Continue Reading Still Coughing: Now-Dominant COVID-19 Variant Can Elude Current Vaccines, Prompts FDA Action
By A. Scott Hecker, Adam R. Young, Mark A. Lies, James L. Curtis, Patrick D. Joyce, and Craig B. Simonsen
Seyfarth Synopsis: In U.S. Dep’t of Labor v. Tampa Elec. Co., the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit used common sense and reason to find the word “uncontrolled” is unambiguous and not
Continue Reading What a Whopper – Court Finds An “Uncontrolled” HAZWOPER Release Doesn’t Mean “Any Release, No Matter How Small”
By A. Scott Hecker, Adam R. Young, Patrick D. Joyce, James L. Curtis, and Craig B. Simonsen
Seyfarth Synopsis: On June 28, 2022, OSHA announced publication of an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (“ANPRM”) regarding potential revisions to the Agency’s lead standards, lowering permissible blood lead levels.
OSHA’s ANPRM concerning the point at which Blood Lead
Continue Reading Lower Blood Lead Levels on OSHA’s To-Do List
By Brent I. Clark, Adam R. Young, A. Scott Hecker, Ilana R. Morady, and Craig B. Simonsen
Seyfarth Synopsis: We recently blogged that Silica is the New Asbestos: New OSHA Regional Emphasis Program Will Target Respirable Silica Hazards in Six States. Now the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) has launched an enforcement initiative
Continue Reading MSHA Launches Enforcement Initiative To Protect Miners From Overexposure To Respirable Crystalline Silica
By Adam R. Young, Mark A. Lies, Brent I. Clark, James L. Curtis, Patrick D. Joyce, A. Scott Hecker, and Melissa A. Ortega
Seyfarth Synopsis: The Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission’s Summit decision limits enforcement against controlling employers and defines secondary safety roles.
The Multi-Employer Worksite Doctrine allows the Occupational Safety
Continue Reading “Secondary Safety Role” Relieves Primary Source of Anxiety for Controlling Employers under OSHA’s Multi-Employer Doctrine
By A. Scott Hecker, Benjamin D. Briggs, Adam R. Young, Patrick Joyce, and Craig B. Simonsen
Seyfarth Synopsis: On May 25, 2022, Douglas Parker, Assistant Secretary for the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration, testified before the U.S. House Committee on Education and Labor’s Workforce Protections Subcommittee regarding his vision for the
Continue Reading The Slow and the Furious: OSHA’s Rulemakings Continue at Various Stages with Infectious Diseases a Priority