On August 30, 2024, OSHA formally published its heat safety standard for indoor and outdoor work in the Federal Register, starting a 120-day public comment period.
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Understanding OSHA’s Proposed Heat Safety Regulations
On July 2, OSHA unveiled its proposed heat safety rule, currently awaiting official publication in the Federal Register. This rule aims to protect employees from heat-related injuries and illnesses by establishing comprehensive requirements for employers, as outlined in a White House Fact Sheet.
The proposed rule is part of broader effort by the Biden…
OSHA Heat Standard Heads to White House for Review
OSHA has been working a proposed standard for indoor and outdoor heat illness since 2021. This month the proposed standard has been sent to the White House’s Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) for review.
While the language of the proposed standard has not be released, the rule is expected to include temperatures that…
MSHA Announces Stakeholder Meetings Regarding New Silica Rule
MSHA announced it will hold a series of stakeholder meetings across the country to share information about the final silica rule issued on April 18, 2024. The first two meetings are scheduled for Arlington, VA on July 10, 2024, and Beckley, WV on July 17, 2024, and will be both an in-person and an online…
OSHA’s Revised Hazard Communication Standard Creates New Requirements for Labeling, Classification, and SDS Access
On May 20, 2024, OSHA published finalized revisions to the Hazard Communication Standard (the “HazCom standard”). The HazCom standard is a commonly cited standard in OSHA inspections. The revisions to the rule address the amount and quality of information on labels and SDS and increase access to important hazard information for workers and first responders.…
MSHA’s Final Silica Redraws the Landscape for Silica Compliance
The Acting Secretary of Labor appeared with the Assistant Secretary for Mine Safety and Health, Chris Williamson and union leaders on April 16th at an event in Uniontown, PA to announce the release of MSHA’s final respirable crystalline silica rule to the public. Although President Biden was campaigning in Scranton, PA, he did not make…
MSHA Posts Template for Compliance with Surface Mobile Equipment Rule
MSHA has posted a template for compliance assistance with the Surface Mobile Equipment Rule. MSHA will begin to enforce the standard on July 17, 2024. The standard does not require operators to submit their plan to the agency, but the plans will be reviewed during inspections. As a reminder, your surface mobile equipment safety programs must include input from…
OSHA Finalizes Inspection Walkaround Rule
On March 29, 2024, OSHA released the final version of its new rule that could reshape future OSHA inspections.…
Attention Employers: The Expanding Scope of Responsibility in Workplace Shootings
In 2021, there was a mass shooting at a high school in Michigan in which four students were killed. As a result of this shooting, not only was the shooter prosecuted, but the parents of the shooter were charged with criminal liability by their failure to take ordinary care to act appropriately, and are, therefore,…
Announcing Fall MSHA Workshop in Denver: Understanding MSHA Litigation
The average mining operator now spends over $20,000 per year on citations and penalties. In this must-attend cost-savings workshop, learn how to reduce or eliminate fines—with the added benefit of improved safety conditions. In an era of increasing citations, this workshop will prepare you to handle Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) inspectors and challenge…