By Adam R. Young and Mark A. Lies II

With the Biden Administration’s aggressive new generation of OSHA compliance officers and enforcement objectives, employers would be wise to develop a written program that incorporates all best practices for inspection management.  Attached is a link to an article outlining best practices for employers when faced with handling an OSHA inspection. 

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Continue Reading Be Ready to Defend the Castle: Seyfarth Legal Update Guides Employers on How to Implement an Effective OSHA Inspection Management Policy

By A. Scott HeckerAdam R. YoungPatrick D. JoyceBenjamin D. Briggs, and Craig B. Simonsen

Seyfarth Synopsis: A Small Business Advocacy Review Panel for a potential OSHA standard to address Prevention of Workplace Violence in the Healthcare and Social Assistance sectors concluded on May 1, 2023. The Final Report is available here

Continue Reading Small Business Panel has Big Recommendations for Potential OSHA Workplace Violence Prevention Standard

By A. Scott HeckerAdam R. YoungPatrick D. JoyceMark A. LiesJames L. Curtis, Daniel R. Birnbaum, and Craig B. Simonsen

Seyfarth Synopsis: OSHA has just announced a National Emphasis Program to prevent falls, the leading cause of fatal workplace injuries and the violation the agency cites most frequently in construction

Continue Reading OSHA Announces a National Emphasis Program to Reduce and Prevent Workplace Falls

By Adam R. YoungDaniel R. Birnbaum, James L. Curtis, and Craig B. Simonsen

Seyfarth Synopsis: Highlighting the current administration’s focus on using press releases to assure workplace health and safety regulations are being followed, OSHA announced that a major retailer who has allegedly continued to expose workers to blocked exit routes is being cited for

Continue Reading Are Your Exits Clear? Major Retailer Faces Over $15 Million in OSHA Fines as OSHA Enforcement Wave on Exit Access Continues

By A. Scott HeckerAdam R. Young, James L. Curtis, and Craig B. Simonsen

Seyfarth Synopsis: OSHA is promoting grain safety and compliance with the Grain Handling Facilities Standard on it’s website and links to additional information about Stand Up for Grain Safety Week, which takes place March 27-31, 2023.

Each year, dozens of

Continue Reading OSHA Highlights Grain Handling Facility Safety: March 27-31

By Adam R. YoungPatrick D. JoyceJames L. CurtisDaniel R. Birnbaum, Melissa A. Ortega and Craig B. Simonsen

Seyfarth Synopsis: The Biden Administration is seeking a 17% funding increase for OSHA under the Department of Labor’s fiscal year 2024 budget request.

The FY 2024 budget request for OSHA is approximately $738.7 million, an

Continue Reading Biden Administration Requests Big Budget Increase For OSHA

By Benjamin D. Briggs, A. Scott Hecker, Adam R. YoungDaniel R. BirnbaumPatrick D. Joyce, and Craig B. Simonsen

Seyfarth Synopsis: The Biden Administration’s Fall 2022 Regulatory Agenda for DOL indicates the Agency’s intent to revise and expand its use of administrative subpoenas through an “interim final rule.” OSHA claims the purpose of

Continue Reading Who Let the Docs Out?  OSHA Intends to Expand Subpoena Practices

By A. Scott HeckerAdam R. YoungPatrick D. JoyceBrent I. ClarkDaniel R. Birnbaum, and Craig B. Simonsen

Seyfarth Synopsis: Occupational noise exposure is common in certain industries across the United States, such as construction, manufacturing, and even warehousing and logistics. According to OSHA, the “Center for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that 22

Continue Reading OSHA Reiterates Concerns About Occupational Hearing Damage and Loss

By Adam R. Young, Brent I. ClarkBenjamin D. BriggsDaniel R. BirnbaumMark A. LiesPatrick D. Joyce, James L. Curtis, and Craig B. Simonsen

Seyfarth Synopsis: In an effort to significantly increase the number of citations and penalties it may issue during an inspection, OSHA has updated its enforcement procedures for

Continue Reading OSHA Issues New Instance-by-Instance Penalties Policy

By Adam R. YoungMelissa A. Ortega, Daniel R. Birnbaum, Mark A. Lies, James L. Curtis, and Craig B. Simonsen

Seyfarth Synopsis: In the wake of increased employee mental health concerns and mass shootings across the country, employers looking to create or enhance a workplace violence program can look to the National Safety Council (NSC)

Continue Reading National Safety Council Releases Workplace Violence Resources for Employers