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
Valenti’s Bakery LLC, a Patterson, New Jersey, commercial bakery, has reached a settlement agreement with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to resolve litigation after a May 2024 follow-up investigation at the company’s facility found previously identified hazards hadn’t been addressed. OSHA initially investigated Valenti’s Bakery in June 2023 after an employee suffered partial […]
On May 14, 2025, the EPA announced it will keep the current National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (NPDWRs) for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), which set nationwide limits for these “forever chemicals” in drinking water. “The Agency is committed to addressing Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in drinking water while following the […]
As the EPA continues to cancel and freeze funding for grants awarded under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), environmental justice programs appear to be targeted, with more than $2.4 billion in grant funding for disadvantaged communities eliminated. “The administration argues these programs constitute ‘favoritism’ and has tied them to diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives it […]
The EPA recently provided notice of a proposed administrative penalty settlement with BP Products North America for violations of the Clean Water Act (CWA) at its facility located in Seattle, Washington. The EPA alleges that the respondent failed to comply with its National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Construction General Permit. Alleged violations include: The […]
Offshore wind projects are in jeopardy in the wake of President Donald Trump’s initial Executive Order (EO) to halt wind energy leasing projects. With massive monetary investments on the line, lawsuits are certainly forthcoming. “The Trump administration took a more aggressive step against wind in April when it ordered the Norwegian company Equinor to halt […]
The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced May 20 it updated its Site-Specific Targeting (SST) program of workplace inspections. The program directive (CPL 02-01-067), signed on April 8 and effective May 20, replaces a directive issued on February 7, 2023. The process for selecting establishments for inspection uses OSHA Form 300A data from […]
Preparedness is crucial when it comes to conducting an organized and thorough response to an emergency situation. In the case of a hazardous substance release, employers subject to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) standard must prepare and train their workers for such situations and emergency response […]
Ahead of summer 2025, in a May 16 announcement, the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) reminded the state’s employers of its indoor and outdoor heat illness prevention standards. The agency also reminded employers of educational materials, guidance, model programs, and other resources available from the agency, which offers annual training held statewide […]
A Marietta, Georgia, stone product manufacturer must pay $120,000 in Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) penalties for failing to administer hearing conservation and respiratory protection programs, the agency announced May 14. The agency cited the same violations during an April 2024 safety and health inspection. Five months after the initial inspection, OSHA cited the […]
Fostermation Inc., a Meadville, Pennsylvania, metal components manufacturer, paid $14,700 to settle six serious and one other-than-serious Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) violations, the agency announced May 12. An investigation by OSHA and the Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division into a minor-aged worker’s fingertip amputation in May 2024 found that the employer […]