More Citations for COVID-19 Violations Issued by Cal/OSHA
California’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) continues to cite multiple employers for safety and health violations related to workplace COVID-19 exposures.
Category: Enforcement and Inspection
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
OSHA Citation Vacated in Fatal Turnpike Robbery Attempt
On January 15, the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission vacated an Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) citation in a fatal attempted robbery of a Pennsylvania Turnpike toll collection van. The cited employer disputed the agency’s citation for a serious violation of the personal protective equipment (PPE) standard (29 CFR 1910.132(a)). An armed guard […]
Michigan Continues to Cite Employers for COVID-19 Violations
The Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) announced citations of 10 additional employers for violations related to workplace COVID-19 exposures. The state agency cited seven employers for violations of its emergency temporary COVID-19 rules and three employers under the General Duty Clause.
A New Round of COVID-19 Citations in Michigan
The Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) inspected and issued citations at several more workplaces for violations of the General Duty Clause and the state’s emergency temporary standard (ETS) for COVID-19 exposures.
EPA Increases Civil Penalties, Adjusting for Inflation
Each year, the EPA publishes annual inflationary increases to the fine amounts for civil penalties assessed under its authority.
Latest OSHA Enforcement Roundup Highlights COVID-19 Violations
In conducting COVID-19-related inspections, OSHA has frequently cited employers for violating certain standards. In the fourth quarter (Q4), OSHA cited 176 employers for COVID-19-related violations, including failure to protect employees from exposure to COVID-19 and not following respiratory protection standards. These penalties resulted in $2,936,089 in fines, ranging from $1,000 to nearly $33,000.
Fourth-Quarter EPA Enforcement Includes EPCRA, CAA, and RCRA Violations
In the fourth quarter (Q4), the EPA finalized 150 settlement agreements with companies small and large across the United States. This represents a significant decrease in enforcement actions—down from 327 penalties issued in Q3 for 2020. The actions taken resulted in $4,582,755 in fines.
OSHA Releases Update on Site-Specific Targeting (SST) Policy
On December 14, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) updated its inspection policy for workplaces with the highest reported injury and illness rates. The Site-Specific Targeting (SST) inspection plan does not include construction industry worksites.
Department of Labor Issues New Rule on Collection of Civil Penalties
On December 23, the Department of Labor (DOL) issued a final rule on debt collection in an initiative designed to enable the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and other DOL agencies improve their collection of civil penalties (85 FR 83816).
Cal/OSHA Issues Citations for COVID-19 Violations in State Meatpacking Industry
The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) cited eight employers across the state for not protecting workers from COVID-19 following inspections at meat processing facilities. Many were cited for violations of the state’s injury and illness prevention program standard—a state regulation with no corresponding federal standard.