By Brent I. Clark and Craig B. Simonsen

iStock_000059644066_DoubleThe National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has recently launched its National Center for Productive Aging and Work (Center).

The new “virtual center,” will focus on worker safety at all ages, promoting lifelong well-being, and will advance the concept of “productive aging.” The NIOSH news release about the Center indicates
Continue Reading NIOSH and Older Workers in the Workplace

By Brent I. Clark and Craig B. Simonsen

PSM Blog PicOSHA has just published a Standard Interpretation (Interpretation) to provide guidance on the enforcement of the Process Safety Management (PSM) Standard’s “recognized and generally accepted good engineering practices” (RAGAGEP) requirements, including how to interpret “shall” and “should”  language in published codes, standards, published technical reports, recommended practices, and similar documents.

According to
Continue Reading OSHA Interpretation on Recognized and Generally Accepted Good Engineering Practices in Process Safety Management

By James L. Curtis, Kerry M. Mohan, and Craig B. Simonsen

http://social.dol.gov/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Tower-chart1.jpg
http://social.dol.gov/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Tower-chart1.jpg

Last October OSHA Administrator David Michaels had, stated that “we at OSHA are very concerned about the rising number of tower worker deaths. The fatality rate in this industry is extraordinarily high – tower workers are killed on the job at a rate
Continue Reading OSHA Rulemaking on Communication Tower Worker Safety

By James L. Curtis and Craig B. Simonsen

In recent remarks by OSHA Administrator David Michaels at the “DOL-FCC Workshop on Tower Climber Safety and Injury Prevention,” Michaels indicated that “we at OSHA are very concerned about the rising number of tower worker deaths. The fatality rate in this industry is extraordinarily high – tower workers are killed on the
Continue Reading OSHA Prepares “Request for Information” to Prevent Communication Tower “Tragedies”

By James L. Curtis and Craig B. Simonsen

The teenage summer job working at the local store is a rite of passage in most communities. Almost everyone has held a summer job at some point in their life.  However, given the disturbing rise in workplace violence, teenagers can be swept up in hostile situations and end up facing down angry,
Continue Reading OSHA Administrator Blogs on Retail Industry’s Need for Workplace Violence Training and Protections

By James L. Curtis, Meagan Newman, and Craig B. Simonsen

OSHA has just released its Site-Specific Targeting 2014 (SST-14) Program (Program) Directive, which replaces its Site-Specific Targeting 2012 that we previously blogged about, and was in effect during 2013. Directive No. 14-01 (CPL 02).

The OSHA SST-14 Program is intended to direct its enforcement resources to workplaces where
Continue Reading OSHA Issues Site-Specific Inspections Targeting Directive for 2014

James L. Curtis, Erin Dougherty Foley, and Craig B. Simonsen

Effective January 1, 2014, the Illinois Vehicle Code, at 625 ILCS 5/12-610.2, was amended to prohibit driving while using an electronic communication device, including hand-held wireless telephones, hand-held personal digital assistants, or portable or mobile computers.

The amendment provides for exceptions including the use of hands-free devices,
Continue Reading Employees Driving In Illinois? What Employers Need to Know

Abigail Cahak and Ronald J. Kramer have just put out an important Client Alert that provides an update and a link to the recent Illinois State Police Department guidance on signage required under the Firearm Concealed Carry Act.

The Department press release included a template of an approved sign for use on private property.  Consistent with that Act, the 4
Continue Reading Illinois State Police Release Sign Required to Prohibit Concealed Carry on Private Property

By James L. Curtis and Craig B. Simonsen

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) recently released its preliminary “Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries.”  The findings show an increase of twenty-three percent in the oil and gas extraction industries, a fourteen percent increase in the mining sector, and a five percent increase in the construction industry.

The BLS Report
Continue Reading Bureau of Labor Statistics’ National Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries Shows Oil and Gas, Construction, and Mining Industries Rates Climbing

By Mark A. Lies II and Craig B. Simonsen

Illinois has just enacted the Firearm Concealed Carry Act, PA 98-63, July 9, 2013. Accordingly, in response to the fact that employees may be carrying weapons, Illinois employers have to ask themselves “are the Company’s policies and procedures up-to-date.”

It will take some time for the State to begin issuing

Continue Reading Employers – Are Your Policies and Procedures Up-To-Date for the Firearm Concealed Carry Act Just Enacted in Illinois?