By Adam R. YoungMelissa 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. YoungMelissa 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 Ilana Morady, Brian Gillis, Clara Rademacher, Patrick D. Joyce, and Bradley Doucette

Seyfarth Synopsis: Senate Bill 553, signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom, requires nearly all employers in the State of California to prepare a Workplace Violence Prevention Plan, train employees on how to identify and avoid workplace violence, and maintain a violent incident log by July

Continue Reading Workplace Violence Prevention Plans Required For California Employers by July 2024

By Adam R. YoungMark 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. ClarkAdam R. YoungA. Scott HeckerPatrick D. Joyce, Benjamin D. Briggs, Mark A. LiesDaniel 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. YoungA. Scott HeckerDaniel R. BirnbaumJames L. Curtis, and Craig B. Simonsen

Seyfarth Synopsis: Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), and Artificial Intelligence (AI) have become increasing factors in construction and general industry workplaces, creating not only potential safety hazards employers must address, but also opportunities for businesses to modernize and improve

Continue Reading A Brave New World: How to Manage Safety Hazards From Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), and Artificial Intelligence (AI)

By Adam R. YoungA. Scott HeckerDaniel I. SmallBenjamin D. Briggs, and Craig B. Simonsen

Seyfarth Synopsis: The COVID-19 pandemic and wildfire smoke shrouding the skies over the East Coast this summer have drawn more attention to indoor air quality, leading the New York City Council to propose indoor air quality resolutions. 

Indoor air

Continue Reading NYC to Consider Indoor Air Quality Regulations

By Ilana MoradyPatrick D. Joyce, and Benjamin D. Briggs

Seyfarth Synopsis: On June 20, 2023, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) updated its guidance to local health departments on the definition of a COVID-19 outbreak. The new definition changes the timeframe for counting COVID-19 cases that make up an outbreak from 14 to 7 days.

Continue Reading Cal/OSHA Definition Changes Make Outbreaks Less Likely

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 HeckerAdam R. YoungPatrick D. JoyceJames L. Curtis, and Craig B. Simonsen

Seyfarth Synopsis: On April 14, 2023, we attended a webinar presented by U.S. DOL Solicitor Seema Nanda, DOL Wage and Hour Division Principal Deputy Jessica Looman, DOL Occupational Safety and Health Administration Assistant Secretary Doug Parker, National Labor Relations Board General Counsel Jennifer Abruzzo

Continue Reading Looking to Prevent and Address Workplace Retaliation, Government Leaders from DOL, NLRB, and EEOC Present Employers with “Best Practices”