By Adam R. Young, Jennifer L. Mora, and Craig B. Simonsen
Seyfarth Synopsis: Across nationwide testing, marijuana positivity rates for 2022 reached 4.3% (up from 2.7% in 2017), with biggest gains found in states that legalized recreational marijuana.
Impairment and related safety hazards have been disrupting the workplace resulting in lost time, absenteeism, safety hazards, and serious industrial
Continue Reading High Times: Marijuana Positivity in Workplace Drug Tests Reaches 25-Year Record
By Adam R. Young, Patrick D. Joyce, James L. Curtis, Daniel R. Birnbaum, Melissa A. Ortega and Craig B. Simonsen
Seyfarth Synopsis: The Biden Administration is seeking a 17% funding increase for OSHA under the Department of Labor’s fiscal year 2024 budget request.
The FY 2024 budget request for OSHA is approximately $738.7 million, an
Continue Reading Biden Administration Requests Big Budget Increase For OSHASeyfarth Synopsis: The National Retail Federation (NRF) is hosting a free webinar on workplace violence, taking place on Mar. 7, 2023, at 12:00 – 1:15 PM.
We are looking forward to the National Retail Federation’s Retail Law Summit, where Adam Young will be presenting a March 7, 2023 webinar on Workplace Violence in Retail with his colleagues Melissa Ortega and Timothy
Continue Reading National Retail Federation Free Webinar on Workplace Violence
By Benjamin D. Briggs, A. Scott Hecker, Adam R. Young, Daniel R. Birnbaum, Patrick D. Joyce, and Craig B. Simonsen
Seyfarth Synopsis: The Biden Administration’s Fall 2022 Regulatory Agenda for DOL indicates the Agency’s intent to revise and expand its use of administrative subpoenas through an “interim final rule.” OSHA claims the purpose of
Continue Reading Who Let the Docs Out? OSHA Intends to Expand Subpoena Practices
By A. Scott Hecker, Adam R. Young, Patrick D. Joyce, Brent I. Clark, Daniel R. Birnbaum, and Craig B. Simonsen
Seyfarth Synopsis: Occupational noise exposure is common in certain industries across the United States, such as construction, manufacturing, and even warehousing and logistics. According to OSHA, the “Center for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that 22
Continue Reading OSHA Reiterates Concerns About Occupational Hearing Damage and Loss
By Adam R. Young, Melissa A. Ortega, Daniel R. Birnbaum, Mark A. Lies, James L. Curtis, and Craig B. Simonsen
Seyfarth Synopsis: In the wake of increased employee mental health concerns and mass shootings across the country, employers looking to create or enhance a workplace violence program can look to the National Safety Council (NSC)
Continue Reading National Safety Council Releases Workplace Violence Resources for Employers
By Adam R. Young, Daniel R. Birnbaum, Mark A. Lies, and James L. Curtis
Seyfarth Synopsis: Recent involuntary manslaughter charges against actor Alec Baldwin serve as a reminder of the state criminal manslaughter liability that may result from industrial accidents. Company management and employees involved in an accident face potential criminal prosecution, prison, and hefty personal fines.
Continue Reading Alec Baldwin Manslaughter Charges Spotlight Criminal Liability For Occupational FatalitiesBy A. Scott Hecker, Adam R. Young, Patrick D. Joyce, James L. Curtis, Daniel 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 James L. Curtis, Brent I. Clark, Benjamin D. Briggs, Mark A. Lies, Jeryl L. Olson, Patrick D. Joyce, Adam R. Young, A. Scott Hecker, and Craig B. Simonsen
Seyfarth Synopsis: The U.S. DOL and U.S. EPA have published their 2023 increases to civil penalties.
We have blogged previously about the annual
Continue Reading More Big Money: OSHA and EPA Civil Penalties Increase for 2023
By A. Scott Hecker, Adam R. Young, Patrick D. Joyce, James L. Curtis, and Craig B. Simonsen
Seyfarth Synopsis: On its website, OSHA is highlighting the hazards of working in winter weather and providing resources for employers to help protect their workers.
Employers must remember that weather-based hazards exist not only in the heat and humidity
Continue Reading From Snowmageddon to Snowpocalypse: OSHA Highlights Potential Winter Weather Hazards