By James L. Curtis and Craig B. Simonsen
Seyfarth Synopsis: OSHA just updated its annual list of the top ten cited standards. The list provides a starting point for employers reviewing their own safety programs.
OSHA just announced the Agency’s annual listing of the “Top Ten Most Frequently Cited Standards.” OSHA’s release noted that, “one remarkable thing about the
Continue Reading OSHA Updates and Publishes “Top Ten” Most Frequently Cited Standards
By Adam R. Young, Kylie Byron, and Craig B. Simonsen
Seyfarth 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
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 Benjamin D. Briggs, Brent I. Clark, and Craig B. Simonsen
Seyfarth Synopsis: OSHA has just reminded temporary staffing agencies and their clients (i.e., host employers) that they are jointly responsible for temporary employee’s safety and health in two new guidance documents relating to safety and health training and hazard communications. Temporary agencies and host employers that
Continue Reading OSHA Releases Two More Temporary Worker Guidance Documents
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 James L. Curtis and Meagan Newman
Following through on its April 2015 “clarification” of the investigative standard in whistleblower matters, OSHA issued a new whistleblower investigations manual overnight restating the mission of its investigators.
The former manual instructed investigators to dismiss a case if complainant could not establish the prima facie elements of the relevant whistleblower statute. The former
Continue Reading OSHA Issues New Whistleblower Investigations Manual
By James L. Curtis, Meagan Newman, and Craig B. Simonsen
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has published a draft document intended to “help employers” to develop a program to protect employees from retaliation when issues or concerns about workplace conditions or activities that could harm workers or members of the public are raised.
The draft, Protecting Whistleblowers: Recommended
Continue Reading OSHA Recommended Practices for Employers for Preventing and Addressing Retaliation
By Brent I. Clark and Craig B. Simonsen
Last week OSHA issued its updated National Emphasis Program on Amputations (NEP). Instruction CPL 03-00-019 (June 30, 2015). Take that juxtaposed against OSHA’s citation in a recent case where on his first day on the job a 21-year-old employee suffered severe burns and the loss of four fingers.
National Emphasis Program on
By Philip L. Comella and Craig B. Simonsen
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has promulgated significant new provisions both to its 1988 underground storage tank (UST) regulations and to its 1988 state program approval (SPA) regulations. 80 Fed. Reg. 41566 (July 15, 2015). This is the first major revision to the federal UST regulations since 1988.
The revisions to the
Continue Reading EPA Adopts Significant Revisions to Underground Storage Tank Regulations
By Andrew H. Perellis and Craig B. Simonsen
The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) has just issued a report on Critical Infrastructure Protection with a finding that Department of Homeland Security (DHS) action is needed to verify chemical facility information and to better manage its compliance process. Report to Congress, GAO-15-614 (July 2015).
Risk Level for Facilities
The Report states
Continue Reading DHS Chemical Facilities Take Note GAO Suggested Need For Enhanced Enforcement