By James L. CurtisAdam R. YoungMark A. Lies, II, Daniel R. Birnbaum, Patrick D. JoyceBrent I. Clark, and Craig B. Simonsen

Seyfarth Synopsis: OSHA is beginning to review work related stress as a workplace hazard falling under its jurisdiction.

OSHA, citing a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention July 2018

Continue Reading OSHA Highlights Stress and Mental Health in the Workplace

By James L. CurtisAdam R. YoungPatrick D. Joyce, Daniel R. Birnbaum, and Craig B. Simonsen

Seyfarth Synopsis: The U.S. Department of Labor Tweeted and blogged about the safety of workers during the busy holiday season, indicating an area of potential enforcement for OSHA in the coming weeks.

Unsurprisingly, OSHA has targeted workplace
Continue Reading Ho, Ho, Health and Safety! Keeping Workers Safe and Merry this Holiday Season

By Benjamin D. BriggsPatrick D. Joyce, and Craig B. Simonsen

Seyfarth SynopsisThe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has updated its original recommendation for all people to wear cloth face coverings when in public and around other people, now acknowledging that face coverings not only protect others, but also protect the wearer. 

On November
Continue Reading CDC Updates FAQs on Face Coverings – Now Recommending Use to Also Protect the Wearer

By James L. CurtisMark A. Lies, II, Adam R. Young, Patrick D. Joyce, and Craig B. Simonsen

Seyfarth Synopsis: In two recent guidance documents, OSHA recommends that employers encourage workers to wear cloth face coverings to reduce the spread of COVID-19. OSHA further addresses the challenges posed by cloth face coverings for workers in
Continue Reading OSHA Publishes New Guidance on Use of Cloth Face Coverings and Heat Illness Prevention

By James L. CurtisAdam R. Young, and Craig B. Simonsen

Seyfarth Synopsis: The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has updated its frequently asked questions and answers to advise employers about the use of face masks in the workplace.

We had blogged previously about face masks at work. See DOL Issues FAQs About Face Coverings, Surgical
Continue Reading OSHA Updates FAQs on Face Masks in the Workplace

By James L. CurtisPatrick D. Joyce, and Craig B. Simonsen

Seyfarth Synopsis: The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has released a series of frequently asked questions and answers regarding the use of masks in the workplace to assist the regulated community.

Right up front, the FAQs settles once and for all the question of whether
Continue Reading DOL Issues FAQs About Face Coverings, Surgical Masks, and Respirators in the Workplace

By Benjamin D. Briggs, Joshua M. HendersonPatrick D. JoyceAdam R. Young, and Craig B. Simonsen

Seyfarth Synopsis:  The Nanotechnology Research Center (NTRC), part of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), has identified new safety hazards from the expanding nanotechnology industry.

We have previously blogged on future issues related to the
Continue Reading Future Enterprises: New Safety Hazards from Nanotechnology Materials and Processes on the Horizon

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 Joshua M. Henderson

This blog post is part of an occasional series on California Occupational Safety & Health issues.

California is one of 22 states and jurisdictions that has its own OSHA Plan covering private sector employers.  The federal OSHA law, of course, continues to provide a minimum level of safety, or “floor,” under which these state regulations may
Continue Reading California Really Is Different: How Employers’ Obligations Differ Under Cal/OSHA With Respect to Reporting Serious Workplace Injuries

By James L. Curtis and Craig B. Simonsen

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has released a new Directive that is for training OSHA representatives in communicating investigation procedures with family members following a workplace fatality. Communicating OSHA Fatality Inspection Procedures to a Victim’s Family, CPL 02-00-153.

The Directive seeks to “ensures that OSHA representatives speak to the

Continue Reading OSHA Issues New Directive on Communicating with Family Members Following Workplace Fatality