An Ohio trucking company was slapped with a $1.57 million OSHA fine after a hazardous materials incident that caused the deaths of two workers. The fine is the fifth highest the agency has issued since January 2015 and involves 40 willful violations. On Feb. 20, an employee of Great Lakes Tank & Vessel entered a […]
Injury and illness records for more than 238,000 employers have been made public via Public Citizen’s website, thanks to a recent court win. OSHA agreed to make the records of 238,641 employers publicly available to Public Citizen after a two-year court battle that ended with a U.S. District Court judge finding the records weren’t confidential. […]
A motor carrier who fired a driver for reporting safety concerns must reinstate the driver and pay $137,341 in back salary and damages. The driver told management a co-worker was driving at excessive speeds and keeping inaccurate driving logs. OSHA investigators found the company, U.S. Corrections LLC of Melbourne, FL, violated whistleblower provisions of the […]
Are you confused by federal OSHA’s reporting requirements for coronavirus cases? You’re not alone. The law firm Baker Hostetler says in a blog post it’s been hearing from employers that they’re confused by OSHA‘s reporting guidance on what to do if an employee gets the coronavirus. Baker Hostetler says OSHA published guidance on its website […]
OSHA is helping to separate facts from rumors about workers wearing cloth masks or other face coverings during the coronavirus pandemic. The agency addresses this question in its coronavirus FAQ: Does wearing a medical/surgical mask or cloth face covering cause unsafe oxygen levels or harmful carbon dioxide levels to the wearer? No, says OSHA. Medical […]
As of mid-July, federal OSHA received more than 6,800 coronavirus-related complaints. Which industries and regions received the most? An analysis by the Nexsen Pruet law firm, using data as of July 16, 2020, showed federal OSHA is receiving the most complaints from the healthcare industry. Here’s the industry breakdown: Healthcare, including hospitals and nursing and […]
OSHA has agreed to make the work-related injury and illness records of 237,000 employers available to advocacy group Public Citizen, following a two-year court battle. Public Citizen used the Freedom of Information Act to request the information, which is recorded on OSHA Form 300A, but OSHA withheld the records, claiming they contained confidential information exempt […]
OSHA has listed 24 regulations for review in its first Regulatory Agenda of 2020. Standards covering cranes and derricks, beryllium, forklifts, silica and workplace violence are all on the agenda. Here’s a breakdown by stage in the regulatory process: Final rules These are among the standards which are closest to the finish line for revisions: […]
OSHA has issued guidance on protecting employees from coronavirus. Here’s a convenient FAQ list to help you.
