Month: June 2015

June 29, 2015

New Hospital Safety Inspection Emphases Stem From Longtime Pressure From Advocates

OSHA’s newly rolled-out areas of emphasis for compliance officers conducting hospital and nursing home inspections — focused intently on ergonomic issues, bloodborne pathogens, workplace violence, tuberculosis and slips, trips and falls — comes after lengthy and intense pressure by health care worker advocates, particularly the…

June 19, 2015

Cal/OSHA Settles Long-Running Farm Worker Suit Over Heat Rules, Revises Regs

California’s state OSHA program has settled a long-running dispute with farm workers’ groups over enforcement of the state’s heat standards, just as new regulations become effective aimed at addressing many of the concerns borne out by the protracted litigation. The 10-year-old California heat illness prevention…

June 19, 2015

Cal/OSHA Stresses Heat Concern As Federal Officials Beat Drum Of ‘Water, Rest, Shade’

California’ state OSHA program is making a renewed push for heat illness prevention as temperatures are projected to soar in the southern region of the state, coming as OSHA simultaneously doubles down on its perennial campaign to inform employers and workers of measures to prevent…

June 11, 2015

Whistleblower Manual Update Details Policy On Punitive, Distress Damage Awards

OSHA recently issued an update to its whistleblower enforcement manual providing further depth of information to field staff on how to approach two major issues — the awarding of punitive damages and determination of emotional distress as a result of retaliation — as well as…

June 8, 2015

OSHA Allows Shipping Stocks Of Older Hazcom-Labeled Containers As New Regs Take Effect

OSHA has adopted a new enforcement policy to provide manufacturers and importers leeway to move any containers in existing stock that have already been labeled in compliance with the 1994 hazard communication rule and are prepared for shipment — a move timed just as a…