OSHA Issues Proposed Ergonomics Plan--Don't Panic Yet
Robert W. Thomson of Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC
On November 23, 1999, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued a proposed rule intended to address .
OSHA Help for New Businesses
United States Department of Labor-Office of the Solicitor
This Occupational Safely and Health guidebook is an overview of the issues small businesses must address regarding the safety of their employees.
California's Controversial Ergonomics Regulation Is Upheld
Jeffrey M. Tanenbaum and Karen A. Sundermier of Littler Mendelson, P.C.
This article reviews Pulaski v. California Occupational Safety & Health Standards Board which upheld the controversial ergonomics regulation and the decision's impact on California employers.
Powered Industrial Truck Operator Training
Edwin G. Foulke,Roger S. Kaplan,David S. Allen and Tom Riley of Jackson Lewis LLP
This article summarizes OSHA's recently revised standard for for powered industrial trucks including who is covered by the regulation, the scope and training requirements for those who operate the above vehicle.
OSHA Regulations for Incidental Exposure to Blood-Borne Pathogens
Smith, Currie & Hancock LLP
Most employers are aware that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has promulgated regulations .
OSHA Announces Ergonomics Plan
Michael A. Zody of Parsons Behle & Latimer
After having the Clinton administration's ergonomics regulations repealed by Congress last spring, the Bush administration went into a planning phase for over a year and recently announced its intentions. Instead of the mandatory ergonomics rules advanced under the Clinton administration, OSHA is going to develop industry-specific "guidelines" that will be enforced under the general duty clause.
OSHA Issues Sweeping Ergonomics Proposal
Peter A. Susser,Jeffrey M. Tanenbaum and Cheryl A Grede of Littler Mendelson, P.C.
This article summarizes the U.S. Department of Labor's (OSHA) proposed rule to establish a general industry standard on workplace ergonomics programs.
OSHA's New Recordkeeping Requirements: Where Does Utah Stand?
Michael A. Zody of Parsons Behle & Latimer
As most employers know, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration ("OSHA") passed new recordkeeping requirements that became effective January 1, 2002. Despite being three times longer than the old regulations, the new regulations are being touted by OSHA as simpler and clearer.
Workplace Exposure to Blood and Other Potentially Infectious Fluids
Bodman LLP
Members have asked what type of training they should provide employees concerning bloodborne diseases, such as Hepa.
Work at Home: OSHA?s About-Face on Home Offices
Charles F. Knapp of Faegre & Benson LLP
This article summarizes OSHA's Directive that an employer is not responsible for the maintenance of home-based work-sites. However, this article recommends that employers are aware that the OSHA's Directive does not absolve an employer from all liabilities involving home-based workers.
Employers who use chemicals may soon maintain electronic MSDS
Day Pitney LLP
This update summarizes the House of Representatives’ recently approved bill that states employers may soon be allowed to maintain material safety data sheets (MSDS) in electronic format.
OSHA Warns of Latex Hazards
Law Office of Jon L. Gelman
Despite the fact that Federal agencies have not yet been able to reach a consensus on the regulation of latex glov.
OSHA Issues Final Ergonomics Standard
Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC
(For the full, 30-page article explaining in more detail the ergonomics standard's requirements, please contact the.
New Clauses in OSHA Settlement Agreements Following Major Accidents
Douglas B. M. Ehlke of Ehlke Law Offices
OSHA is seeking several new clauses from employers settling industrial accident citations. Here are some of the latest: 1) Comprehensive Safety and Health Program?OSHA administrators indicate they seek this clause as a management commitment to address all potential hazards in the workplace. This demand frequently encompasses, in OSHA's mind, a commitment by management to educate workers to recognize all hazards in their respective work areas.
Safety-Policy and Training Deficiencies
Douglas B. M. Ehlke of Ehlke Law Offices
Proper safety policies and implemented training remain cornerstones to an effective safety program. When deficiencies crop up, OSHA and plaintiff 's lawyers have a pipeline to serious citations or intentional tort civil claims.
New, Revised and Proposed OSHA Standards
Karen J. VanderWerff of Warner Norcross & Judd LLP
This articles gives and overview of the new, revised and proposed OSHA standards as of April 1999.
Federal Government Debates Latex Regulations
Law Office of Jon L. Gelman
Federal agencies have not yet been able to reach a consensus regulation of latex gloves, exposure to which has resu.
Federal OSHA Issues Expansive Proposed Ergonomics Standard; PHJ&W Forming Coalition for Responsible Ergonomics Standards California Court Upholds CalOSHA's Standard; Washington State Issues Own Pr
John C Oakes of Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP
On November 22, 1999, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued a far-reaching Proposed Ergonom.
Motor Carrier Employee Whistle Blower Protection
U.S. Department of Transportation
Publication from the Department of Transportation which discusses motor carrier employee whistle blower protection under 49 U.S.C. 31105 and 29 CFR 1978.
OSHA Proposes Ergonomics Program Standards
Bodman LLP
In February 1999, OSHA announced plans to adopt an Ergonomic Program Standard (EPS) that will affect many businesse.
New Federal Needlestick Safety Act
Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC
On November 6, 2000, President Clinton signed into law a federal needlestick safety bill aimed at reducing the ris.
Willful Blindness
Douglas B. M. Ehlke of Ehlke Law Offices
The Washington ,D.C., Federal Circuit Court of Appeals came down hard on a corn- refining company that reportedly ignored serious dust and electrical explosion hazards and noncompliance written reports. The OSHA Review Commission's determination of 89 willful citations were upheld on appeal against A.E. Staley Mfg. Co. on July 23, 2002.
California's AB 1127:The "Be an Employer, Pay a Massive Penalty" Act
Jeffrey M. Tanenbaum of Littler Mendelson, P.C.
This article summarizes the amendments to the California Occupational Safety and Health Act and highlights how the amendments will affect California employers.
Toxic Mold: a Real, "Growing" Concern
Edward B. Ned Witte and Tanya C. O'Neill of Foley & Lardner LLP
Move aside asbestos, radon and lead paintÃÂas mundane a substance as it may seem, the environmental hazard du jour is mold. Nationwide reports document the substantial concern that mold has attracted from environmental and health agencies, courts, insurance companies, employers and employees, multi-family property owners and, predictably, personal injury lawyers. Even Erin Brockovich (the real one, not Julia Roberts) has sued her builder for mold that developed in her home.
OSHA Penalty Pitfalls
Douglas B. M. Ehlke of Ehlke Law Offices
Kaspar Wire Works, Inc. was cited by OSHA for more than 400 alleged willful and serious violations, mostly OSHA 200 recordkeeping violations of various standards with some $41 million in proposed penalties. OSHA used its disputed authority to make each recordkeeping failure to record injuries on the OSHA 200 log as a separate citation item. It based the per-instance separate penalties assessment on a claim that Kaspar's violations were "egregious and willful."
OSHA and Ergonomics: Sympathy Over Science and Sense
Bradley W. Fitzgerald of Woods Rogers PLC
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has received the go-ahead from Congress to continue effor.
OSHA Revises Bloodborne Pathogens Compliance Directive
Robert W. Thomson of Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC
On November 5, 1999, OSHA issued a new directive to address exposure to bloodborne pathogens. The directive guides .
OSHA Releases Proposed Ergonomic Standards
Paula A. Barran of Barran Liebman LLP
Ending the agency's decade long quest to regulate the incidence of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) in the .
Proposed OSHA Rule Could Force Redesign of 4.5 Million Jobs
Jonathan Siebers of Warner Norcross & Judd LLP
This article reviews the proposed OSHA rule which could effect 4.5 million jobs in the United States.
OSHA Seeks to Step Up Enforcement of Criminal Penalties and High-Gravity Citations
Thomas M. Metzger and Steve Biddle of Littler Mendelson, P.C.
OSHA increases its enforcements efforts by pursuing potential criminal prosecutions against corporate officers for high gravity citations especially when fatalities occur in the workplace.
DHS Issues Interim Rule Implementing the SAFETY Act
Jacob B. Pankowski of Nixon Peabody LLP
On October 10, 2003, Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge signed an interim rule implementing the SAFETY Act. The interim rule is effective immediately and formally launches the application, review, and acceptance process that informally began on September 1, 2003. The interim rule also seeks another round of comments to be submitted within sixty days after the date the interim rule is published in the Federal Register.
OSHA's New Respiratory Protection Standard
Bodman LLP
OSHA passed a new rule which clarifies, updates and strengthens OSHA's previous respiratory protection standard whi.
Shift Work Is Dangerous to Your Health
Law Office of Jon L. Gelman
Ways of administering or coping with shiftwork are suggested in a new publication from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) to decrease the health and safety problems associated with working evening, night, or rotating hours.
OSHA Issues Working Draft of Proposed Ergonomics Program Standard
Rudman & Winchell
On March 4, 1999, OSHA issued what it calls a "Working Draft of a Proposed Ergonomics Program Standard".
Who Pays for Safety Shoes?
Douglas B. M. Ehlke of Ehlke Law Offices
OSHA standard 1910.136 for occupational foot protection requires as follows: "General requirements.
The employer shall ensure that each affected employee uses protective footwear when working in areas where there is a danger of foot injuries due to falling or rolling objects, piercing the sole and where such employee's feet are exposed to electrical hazards."
Economics Of Ergonomics
Sean D. Reyes of Parsons Behle & Latimer
On November 14, 2000, OSHA published its final ergonomics program standard. As defined by OSHA, ergonomics is the science of fitting the jobs to the people who work in them. OSHA's goal in requiring a workplace ergonomics program is to reduce work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), such as carpal tunnel syndrome.
Increased Liability To Third Parties From Cal-OSHA Violations
William Terheyden and Tara G. Bedeau of Littler Mendelson, P.C.
California Supreme Court holds Cal-OSHA regulations may be used to establish standards and duties of care in negligence actions against companies by third parties.
Federal OSHA's Broad Draft Ergonomics Standard Advances Client Alert: September 1999
Gregory R. Watchman of Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP
This Client Alert follows further developments related to the broad draft Ergonomics Standard published by OSHA.
Just When You Thought It Was SafeÂ
OSHA's New Ergonomics Standard Creates Serious Liability Risks
Powell, Trachtman, Logan, Carrle & Lombardo P.C.
Ergonomics, sometimes referred to as "human engineering," is the science of fitting people to their jobs safely and.
OSHA Reminder
Robert W. Thomson of Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC
OSHA regulations require that each employer maintain a log and summary of all recordable occupational injuries and .
Employers in Carolinas must Follow State, Rather than Federal OSHA Noise Exposure Standard
Duff, White & Turner, LLC
The Occupational Safety and Health Act permits states to administer their own workplace safety and health programs.
OSHA Update: Industry Specific Guidelines and Four-Pronged Approach for Ergonomics, Evacuations
Michael A. Zody of Parsons Behle & Latimer
Guidelines:ÃÂ Making slow but steady progress, this past fall OSHA published its first set of industry-specific guidelines on ergonomics.ÃÂ Focusing on the nursing home industry, the first set of guidelines consists of three components:ÃÂ management practices, work-site analysis and control methods.
Federal OSHA's Broad Draft Ergonomics Standard Advances
Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP
On July 2, 1999, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration forwarded a broad ergonomics proposal to the Office of Management and Budget for review, with plans to publish it in the Federal Register by the end of the year.
OSHA Multi-Employer Citation Policy
Robert W. Thomson of Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration ("OSHA") has issued a Directive clarifying its multi-employer .
Will the new ergonomics standard effect your business?
Leon C. Harmon and John Davidson of Nexsen Pruet
This article summarizes OSHA's proposed regulations governing ergonomics standards for workplaces having manufacturing operations, manual handling operations and jobs where there is a way to record musculoskeletal disorders.
Ergonomics Standards
Gregory R. Watchman and John C Oakes of Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP
This Client Alert provides an overview of the far-reaching Proposed Ergonomics Standard issued by OSHA on November 22, 1999.
OSHA'S Continued Dalliance with An Ergonomic Program Standard
Rudman & Winchell
OSHA remains committed to imposing new and additional regulations on employers.
OSHA Client Alert
Pepper Hamilton LLP
This alert reviews OSHA's proposal to regulate ergonomic injuries in the workplace. If the proposed rules are promulgated, OSHA will regulate musculoskeletal disorders.
OSHA Won't Routinely Request Employer's Voluntary Self-Audits Of Workplace Safety and Health
Robert W. Thomson of Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC
On October 6, 1999, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced that it will not routinely request .
Federal OSHA Issues Broad Draft Ergonomics Standard
Gregory R. Watchman of Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP
This Client Alert provides an overview of the broad draft Ergonomics Standards issued by OSHA on February 19, 1999.
OSHA Alert: Utah Shifts to Federally Mandated Eight Hour Reporting Requirement
Parsons Behle & Latimer
In Utah, the federal OSHA regulations are implemented through the Utah Occupational Safety and Health branch ("UOSH"). UOSH recently announced that it is moving from 12-hour to 8-hour oral reporting for deaths or serious injuries.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration New Notification Requirements for Owners of Buildings Containing Asbestos
Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP
June 1996 The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has published a new rule governing occu.