By A. Scott HeckerAdam R. YoungPatrick D. JoyceJames L. CurtisDaniel R. Birnbaum and Craig B. Simonsen

Seyfarth Synopsis: OSHA announced enhanced enforcement and oversight efforts following an “alarming rise” in trenching fatalities, intended to draw attention to construction worker safety and present issues and solutions. Current OSHA enforcement guidelines require inspectors

Continue Reading As Fatality Numbers Skyrocket, OSHA Scrutinizes Trenching and Excavation Hazards with Redoubled Enforcement

By A. Scott HeckerAdam R. Young, James L. Curtis, and Craig B. Simonsen

Seyfarth Synopsis: OSHA is highlighting trenching hazards, and their potentially-dire consequences, on its homepage

OSHA had released CPL 02-00-161 on October 1, 2018, continuing its National Emphasis Program on Trenching and Excavation, (“NEP”), and requiring agency compliance safety and health
Continue Reading OSHA Focusing on Trenching Hazards

By Brent I. ClarkPatrick D. JoyceIlana 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, Mark A. Lies, IIAdam R. YoungDaniel R. Birnbaum, and Craig B. Simonsen

Seyfarth Synopsis:  OSHA has recently released its National Emphasis Program on Trenching and Excavation, CPL 02-00-161 (October 1, 2018), which requires OSHA to open inspections against any contractor involved in trenching or excavation work and report
Continue Reading Can You Dig It? OSHA Releases Onerous New National Emphasis Program on Trenching and Excavation

By James L. Curtis and Craig B. Simonsen

The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration released its 2014 Budget Justification this week, indicating implementation of its new “weighted inspection system” to target the most serious hazards such as those found in refineries, trenching, shipbreaking, falls, chemical plants and industries that use crystalline silica, lead, and hexavalent chromium.

The Agency plans
Continue Reading OSHA 2014 Budget Justification Will Implement Its New “Weighted Inspection System”