By Brent I. Clark, Adam R. Young, and Craig B. Simonsen
Seyfarth Synopsis: Federal OSHA has put grain handling safety right up-front on its main homepage. OSHA wants you to “learn how to stay safe during grain handling operations.”
Concerning the Agency’s Grain Handling Facilities Standard, 29 C.F.R. § 1910.272, the Agency explained that “grain
Continue Reading OSHA.gov Highlights Grain Handling Facility Safety on Main Website
By James L. Curtis, Daniel R. Birnbaum, Patrick D. Joyce, Matthew A. Sloan, and Adam R. Young
Seyfarth Synopsis: The growth of the gig economy has transformed the modern workforce and upended traditional models for developing a workplace safety culture and worker safety training. New and inexperienced workers confront evolving safety hazards. Given this transformed
Continue Reading Workplace Safety in the Gig Economy: New Hazards and Liabilities
By Benjamin D. Briggs, Brent I. Clark, Adam R. Young, Matthew A. Sloan, and Craig B. Simonsen
Seyfarth Synopsis: Compliance with industry standard for combustible dust set for September 2020. Don’t delay, because OSHA is already citing employers using the not yet effective NFPA 652, Standard on the Fundamentals of Combustible Dust.
By James L. Curtis, Daniel R. Birnbaum, and Craig B. Simonsen
Seyfarth Synopsis: With the seemingly random workplace violence that continues unabated, many employers are again asking how best to protect their employees.
We had blogged previously about “Workplace Violence Prevention: DHS Promotes “Active Shooter Preparedness” Programs – Is Your Company Ready?” In addition, we blogged
Continue Reading Workplace Violence and Shootings in the Spotlight
By Christopher W. Kelleher, Rashal G. Baz, James L. Curtis, and Brent I. Clark,
Seyfarth Synopsis: On October 11, 2017, the Chicago City Council passed an ordinance that will require Chicago hotels to provide certain staff with “panic buttons” and develop enhanced anti-sexual harassment policies.
In an effort to protect hotel employees from sexual harassment
Continue Reading Click for Backup: New Ordinance Requires Chicago Hotels to Provide Staff with “Panic Buttons”
By James L. Curtis and Craig B. Simonsen
Seyfarth Synopsis: DHS’s recommendations for active shooter prevention and preparedness is only one piece of an effective workplace violence prevention program. Employers should assess their workplaces and develop comprehensive workplace violence prevention programs and training.
With the wave of violence that has gripped the nation this summer, many clients are again asking
Continue Reading Wave of Shootings Puts Workplace Violence Back in the Spotlight
By Adam R. Young and Craig B. Simonsen
Violence, often involving firearms, is an increasingly common occurrence in the 21st century workplace. The Federal Bureau of Investigation notes that even though homicide is “the most publicized form of violence in the workplace, it is not the most common.”
The FBI defines workplace violence as “any physical assault, threatening behavior or
Continue Reading Workplace Violence Prevention: DHS Promotes “Active Shooter Preparedness” Programs – Is Your Company Ready?
By Mark A. Lies, II and Craig B. Simonsen
Employers today can find themselves in a seemingly untenable dilemma when they have violence threaten to invade their workplaces. Two recent cases illustrate the competing liabilities that employers face in their decision-making as to how to respond to workplace violence.
In one case, decided by the United States Court of Appeals
Continue Reading Workplace Violence – Putting Employers on the Horns of a Dilemma
By Jeryl L. Olson, Meagan Newman and Craig B. Simonsen
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has just released an Enforcement Alert on accidental releases of chemicals, including anhydrous ammonia at refrigeration facilities, under the Clean Air Act’s (CAA) Chemical Accident Prevention Program.
This Enforcement Alert comes in seeming coordination with the EPA’s recent news release about several anhydrous
Continue Reading EPA Enforcement Alert that Refrigeration Facilities are Under Scrutiny
By Mark A. Lies II and Ilana R. Morady
As most employers are aware, OSHA inspections typically involve a request for the employer to produce certain documents. In many cases, employers are unsure of what documents the compliance officer is entitled to see and copy. Employers can also be unsure of how long to retain certain documents required under OSHA.
Continue Reading OSHA-Related Documents: Creation And Retention