Practical EHS Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
As today’s workplace becomes more complex, regulation of that workplace increases. In this section, you’ll find the practical advice you need to understand exactly what OSHA, other federal agencies, and their state counterparts, require of you, and to comply in the ways that best satisfy both your and their needs. Look also for important court decisions, advice on how to handle enforcement actions, and news of upcoming changes in workplace health and safety law.
Free Special Report: What to Expect from an OSHA Inspection
Where is OSHA headed? OSHA chief David Michaels outlines the agency’s new regulatory and enforcement agenda. “We’ve accelerated our push to make fundamental changes in the way employers and workers cooperate to secure safe workplaces,” says Dr. Michaels, “and we are doing this through an aggressive regulatory agenda.” The motto for OSHA’s new agenda is […]
By BLR Founder and CEO Bob Brady OSHA continues to concentrate inspection efforts on industries and standards where there is the greatest likelihood of severe injury and death. The construction industry is one of those often targeted, and last year scaffolding led the list of most frequently violated standards. Last year there were more […]
OSHA is currently in the process of developing a combustible dust standard. Meanwhile, the agency has issued guidance to help industry recognize and control hazards. And OSHA may pursue enforcement actions under the general duty clause and hazard communication standard. For at least half of its 10-year existence, the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) has […]
Hazardous chemicals and substances play leading roles in OSHA’s list of regulatory priorities for 2010. Here’s a quick review of expected rulemaking. What’s new with OSHA? OSHA Chief Dr. David Michaels says, "We’re moving from reaction to prevention, beefing up enforcement, and moving the regulatory agenda forward." Regulatory priorities for this year have been set […]
OSHA is proposing to revise its Occupational Injury and Illness Recording and Reporting (recordkeeping) regulation by restoring a column on the OSHA Form 300 to better identify work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). The proposed rule wouldn’t change the existing requirements for when and under what circumstances you must record MSDs on your injury and illness log. […]
Yesterday we talked about the controversy over OSHA’s Enhanced Enforcement Program (EEP) and the likelihood that significant changes are on the way. Today we’ll tell you what those changes are likely to be and how you can keep up with all the enforcement news. Employers that have been affected by EEP or might be affected […]
OSHA’s Enhanced Enforcement Program is under the gun and slated for a makeover. OSHA has committed to upgrading the program, which could have a significant effect on those who fail to comply with safety standards. Enforcement under the Occupational Safety and Health Act is chronically criticized as inadequate, mismanaged, and underfunded. While those charges are […]
Does the confirmation of the new OSHA administrator mean the dawn of a new era of greater regulation and stricter enforcement? It’s too early to say for sure. But here’s a look at what might be headed your way. What can you expect from OSHA under David Michaels? Listen to what Michaels himself says in […]
Whether David Michaels is the right person to head OSHA was a hotly debated topic in recent months. With his confirmation, we take a look at his credentials and what people are saying—pro and con—about the new OSHA chief. As we start the new year and consider the impact of the confirmation of David Michaels […]
The controversy surrounding the nomination of David Michaels as OSHA chief centers around Michaels’ stated intention to take a more aggressive regulatory and enforcement stance, and also focuses on a highly divisive issue—ergonomics. The battle over the Obama administration’s nominee to head OSHA, David Michaels, heats up as industry groups express concern over projected changes […]