By James L. Curtis, Daniel R. BirnbaumPatrick D. JoyceMatthew 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 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 Brent I. ClarkJames L. CurtisAdam R. Young, and Craig B. Simonsen

Seyfarth Synopsis: This week at the 2018 National Safety Council (NSC) Congress the speakers on this Executive Forum noted that “automation, wearables, augmented reality, virtual reality, drones, big data, machine learning, the Internet of Things – emerging technologies are now almost too
Continue Reading National Safety Council Congress: Executive Forum Industry 4.0 – EHS in the Future of the Workplace

By Brent I. Clark, James L. Curtis, Benjamin D. Briggs, Patrick D. Joyce, Adam R. Young, and Craig B. Simonsen

Seyfarth Synopsis: Due to the increased use of robotics and computer automation for many job functions that have historically been performed by employees raises, besides the traditional personnel and employment issues, a host of
Continue Reading Robotics, Automation, and Employee Safety for the Future Employer

By James L. CurtisDaniel Birnbaum, and Craig B. Simonsen

Seyfarth Synopsis: NIOSH reiterated last week that healthcare workers are exposed to a wide range of hazards on the job and healthcare employers may not be following best practices to protect against these hazards.

Healthcare is the fastest-growing sector of the U.S. economy, employing over 18 million
Continue Reading Nothing to Sneeze At: Evaluating Employee Safety Protections in the Healthcare Industry

By Jane HallPaul CutroneSam Witton, and Nick Neil

Seyfarth Synopsis:  We are aware that many of the clients we advise on U.S. workplace safety and health laws and regulations also have operations in Australia.  The below blog provides insights into recent significant developments in workplace safety and health law in Queensland.  Please feel free
Continue Reading Australia: Industrial Manslaughter – Will the Response to Community Outrage Deliver Results?

By Brent I. Clark, James L. Curtis, and Craig B. Simonsen

Welder on a construction site.Seyfarth Synopsis: The Federal Railroad Administration’s new Safety Advisory seeks to cover activities that fall outside the scope of FRA safety regulations, but within the purview of the OSHA regulations.

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has just issued its Safety Advisory 2016–02 (November 28, 2016). The
Continue Reading FRA/OSHA Safety Advisory – Identification and Mitigation of Hazards Through Job Safety Briefings and Hazard Recognition Strategies

By Benjamin D. Briggs, Adam R. Young, and Craig B. Simonsen

bottleSeyfarth Synopsis: In a challenge brought by trade associations for the farm supply and fertilizer industries, the D.C. Circuit vacates OSHA memorandum narrowing the retail exemption from the PSM standard.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit recently ruled against OSHA on
Continue Reading DC Circuit Finds OSHA “Interpretation” Narrowing Retail Exemption Under the Process Safety Management Standard Really a “Standard” Subject to Rulemaking Process

By Benjamin D. Briggs, Adam R. Young, and Craig B. Simonsen

shutterstock_150166427Seyfarth Synopsis: The Tenth Circuit held that a trucking company unlawfully retaliated against a truck driver after he abandoned a trailer on a public highway, finding that his actions constituted a protected refusal to operate a vehicle in unsafe conditions.

The Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals
Continue Reading Tenth Circuit Orders Truck Driver Who Abandoned Trailer on Interstate Highway to be Reinstated with Backpay

By Adam R. Young, Kylie Byron, and Craig B. Simonsen

shutterstock_178475264Seyfarth Synopsis: NIOSH releases a comprehensive training curriculum that home healthcare employers can use to minimize safety risks and prevent OSHA citations.

We had blogged previously about OSHA’s “Strategies and Tools” to “Help Prevent” Workplace Violence in the Healthcare Setting. Now the National Institute for Occupational
Continue Reading NIOSH Offers Free Training Program to Help Employers Address Safety Risks Faced by Home Healthcare Workers