By Adam R. Young, Melissa A. Ortega, and Craig B. Simonsen
Seyfarth Synopsis: OSHA has put out a reminder to employers on winter weather Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) requirements on how to design an effective PPE program. Employers must provide PPE, to protect workers’ safety, and health.
As winter returns and brings with it cold temperatures, ice
Continue Reading ‘Tis the Season: OSHA Reminds Employers to Keep Employees Safe in the Cold
By Adam R. Young, A. Scott Hecker, Patrick D. Joyce, Daniel R. Birnbaum and Craig B. Simonsen
Seyfarth Synopsis: Here we go again. The impending federal government shutdown may suspend many enforcement and consultation functions of the United States Department of Labor, including OSHA.
The federal government is currently funded through November 17, 2023. If Congress does
Continue Reading Federal Government Shutdown Would Significantly Impact United States Department of Labor Enforcement Activities
By Adam R. Young, Mark A. Lies, II, and A. Scott Hecker
Seyfarth Synopsis: Most employers understand that they are required to report serious injuries and illnesses to OSHA shortly after they occur. Even employers in low hazard industries who are not required to keep written OSHA records still face reporting obligations.
Federal OSHA regulations require employers
Continue Reading OSHA Injury and Illness Reporting: What Employers Need to Know
By James L. Curtis, Brent I. Clark, Adam R. Young, A. Scott Hecker, Patrick D. Joyce, Benjamin D. Briggs, Mark A. Lies, Daniel R. Birnbaum, and Craig B. Simonsen
Seyfarth Synopsis: The U.S. Department of Labor recently announced that OSHA has issued a heat hazard alert to “remind employers of their
Continue Reading OSHA Issues Heat Hazard Alert Reminding Employers to Protect Workers Against Heat Illness and Injury – States are Following Suit
By Adam R. Young, Jennifer L. Mora, and Craig B. Simonsen
Seyfarth Synopsis: Across nationwide testing, marijuana positivity rates for 2022 reached 4.3% (up from 2.7% in 2017), with biggest gains found in states that legalized recreational marijuana.
Impairment and related safety hazards have been disrupting the workplace resulting in lost time, absenteeism, safety hazards, and serious industrial
Continue Reading High Times: Marijuana Positivity in Workplace Drug Tests Reaches 25-Year Record
By A. Scott Hecker, Adam R. Young, Patrick D. Joyce, James L. Curtis, and Craig B. Simonsen
Seyfarth Synopsis: On its website, OSHA is highlighting the hazards of working in winter weather and providing resources for employers to help protect their workers.
Employers must remember that weather-based hazards exist not only in the heat and humidity
Continue Reading From Snowmageddon to Snowpocalypse: OSHA Highlights Potential Winter Weather Hazards
By James L. Curtis, Adam R. Young, Erin Dougherty Foley, and Craig B. Simonsen
The U.S. Department of Labor has blogged about the safety of workers during the busy holiday season, indicating an area of potential enforcement for OSHA in the coming weeks.
In fact OSHA has a Holiday Workplace Safety page to learn more. Crowd management has
Continue Reading Holiday Safety Liabilities and Tips to Limit Employer Liability at Company PartiesBy Adam R. Young, James L. Curtis, Patrick D. Joyce, and Craig B. Simonsen
Seyfarth Synopsis: With Hurricane Ian drenching the Gulf Coast, Florida, and the Atlantic coastal states, employers are facing daunting emergencies, safety and health risks, property damage, employee disruption, and re-building.
This blog contains an updated primer on (1) preparing for an emergency;
Continue Reading The Rain is Coming Again: Disaster Preparedness, Recovery, and Employee Safety During Hurricane Season
By A. Scott Hecker, Adam R. Young, James L. Curtis, Benjamin D. Briggs, and Craig B. Simonsen
Seyfarth Synopsis: OSHA is highlighting those employed through staffing agencies, generally called temporary or supplied workers, on its homepage. “Temporary workers” are workers supplied to a host employer and paid by a staffing agency, whether or not
Continue Reading OSHA Focuses on Temporary Worker Employer Responsibilities and Guidance
By Adam R. Young, Melissa A. Ortega, A. Scott Hecker, James L. Curtis, Brent I. Clark, Benjamin D. Briggs, Patrick D. Joyce, and Craig B. Simonsen
Seyfarth Synopsis: On August 11, 2022, the CDC, through a press release, eased its COVID-19 guidance to “help us move to a point where COVID-19 no longer
Continue Reading CDC Eases COVID-19 Guidelines