By A. Scott Hecker, Ilana R. Morady, and Brent I. Clark
Seyfarth Synopsis: On January 21, 2021, President Biden directed MSHA to consider whether COVID-19 emergency temporary standards (“ETS”) are necessary for coal and metal/non-metal mines, and if so, to issue them “as soon as practicable.” While MSHA has not announced an ETS, it recently published new guidance
Continue Reading Biden MSHA Issues “Protecting Miners Guidance” on Mitigating and Preventing the Spread of COVID-19 in Mines
By Patrick D. Joyce, Ilana R. Morady, Adam R. Young, and Daniel R. Birnbaum
Seyfarth Synopsis: Seyfarth Shaw’s OSHA/MSHA group is at the ABA’s Occupational Safety and Health Law Committee Midwinter Meeting this week. Today, we heard from panels that discussed California Workplace Violence and Indoor Heat Rules, Issues under the Freedom of Information Act, OSHA’s
Continue Reading Day Three at the ABA Occupational Safety and Health Law Committee Midwinter Meeting
By Brent I. Clark, Patrick D. Joyce, Ilana Morady, Adam R. Young, and Daniel R. Birnbaum
Seyfarth Synopsis: Seyfarth Shaw’s OSHA/MSHA group is at the ABA’s Occupational Safety and Health Law Committee Midwinter Meeting this week. Today, we heard from the Director of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health on Coronavirus and Opioids,
Continue Reading Coronavirus and Technology in the Workplace – Day Two at the ABA Occupational Safety and Health Law Committee Midwinter Meeting
By Brent I. Clark, Patrick D. Joyce, Adam R. Young, and Daniel R. Birnbaum
Seyfarth Synopsis: Seyfarth Shaw’s OSHA/MSHA group is at the ABA’s Occupational Safety and Health Law Committee Midwinter Meeting this week. Today, we heard some introductory remarks from the Solicitor of Labor, a panel who discussed the recent Occupational Safety and Health Review
Continue Reading Day One at the ABA Occupational Safety and Health Law Committee Midwinter Meeting
By Brent I. Clark, Ilana R. Morady, and Craig B. Simonsen
Seyfarth Synopsis: The DOL has published its 2020 increases to MSHA civil penalties.
The DOL has finalized the 2020 inflation adjustments, which will nudge the penalties up 1.764%. 85 Fed. Reg. 2292 (Jan. 15, 2020).
Under the 2020 rule, the new MSHA civil penalties for
Continue Reading MSHA Increases Civil Penalties for 2020
By James L. Curtis and Craig B. Simonsen
Seyfarth Synopsis: A Democratic lead House subcommittee has proposed a large budget increase for both the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the Mine Safety and Health Administration.
The Democratic budget proposal would allocate more than $660.9 million for OSHA in fiscal year 2020 – around $103 million more than the
Continue Reading Democratic House Proposes Large Increases for OSHA and MSHA Budgets
By Brent I. Clark, Ilana R. Morady, and Craig B. Simonsen
Seyfarth Synopsis: MSHA just announced a Request for Information (RFI) on safety improvement technologies for mobile equipment and for belt conveyors, both at surface mines. 83 Fed. Reg. 29716 (June 26, 2018).
In its RFI MSHA notes that “mining safety could be substantially improved by preventing
Continue Reading MSHA Issues RFI for Safety Improvement Technologies and Belt Conveyors
By Brent I. Clark, Ilana R. Morady, and Craig B. Simonsen
Seyfarth Synopsis: MSHA just announced its Final Rule on Examinations of Working Places in Metal and Nonmetal Mines. 83 Fed. Reg. 15055 (April 9, 2018).
The Final Rule, which will be effective on June 2, 2018, requires that:
By Brent I. Clark, James L. Curtis, Ilana R. Morady, Patrick D. Joyce, Adam R. Young, and Daniel Birnbaum
Seyfarth Synopsis: Here is today’s update from the presentations and room discussions at the ABA Occupational Safety and Health Law Committee’s 2018 Midwinter Meeting.
We are attending the ABA Occupational Safety and Health Law
Continue Reading Update From the Midwinter Meeting of the ABA Occupational Safety and Health Law Committee
By Brent I. Clark, Adam R. Young, and Craig B. Simonsen
Seyfarth Synopsis: The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has found a seven percent increase in 2016 fatal injuries reported over those reported in 2015. BLS noted that this was the third consecutive increase in annual workplace fatalities. The statistics show an ongoing struggle for employers with
Continue Reading Transportation and Workplace Violence Stand Out in Census of 2016 Fatal Occupational Injuries