OSHA watch
Public hearing on heat injury and illness prevention standard
An informal public hearing will be held on June 16, 9:30 a.m., EDT, on the Biden-era proposed rule aimed at preventing heat-related illnesses and deaths in the workplace. The hearing will "continue on subsequent weekdays, if necessary," according to the announcement. Registration isn't required to view the hearing, and instructions for watching will be posted on the rulemaking webpage. While a public hearing is the last major step in the rulemaking process, several possible outcomes exist. It could be adopted as is, significantly altered, or withdrawn. The rule's future remains uncertain amid industry and GOP lawmakers' calls to scrap the rulemaking.
For more information on the rule and the possible actions, see the article, Heat safety at work: updates on OSHA's proposed rule and state laws.
2024 injury and illness data now available
The 2024 data collected under the rules for annual injury and illness data submission comes from 370,000 reports submitted on Form 300A, an annual summary of work-related injuries and illnesses. "Partial data" from more than 732,000 submissions of Form 300, a log of work-related injuries and illnesses and Form 301, incident reports for each of those injuries or illnesses, is also available. The remaining data will be published after it has been reviewed to protect worker privacy.
NIOSH
Heavy staff cuts under HHS reorganization plan
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) focuses on research, education, and making recommendations to prevent work-related injuries, illnesses, and fatalities. It studies workplace hazards across industries like construction, healthcare, and manufacturing, vets N95 masks and other essential protective equipment, addresses workplace disease outbreaks, and more. It's set to merge with four other agencies to form the Administration for a Healthy America. The consequences of these cuts remain to be seen, but many experts have raised concerns about whether worker safety research will remain a priority.
Factsheet for law enforcement officers on needlesticks
NIOSH has issued a fact sheet designed to help law enforcement officers avoid needlesticks and other sharps injuries that could expose them to bloodborne pathogens. The fact sheet provides tips on staying safe, safe disposal and handling of sharps, and what to do if injured.
Guidance on respirator selection for healthcare workers
NIOSH's Respirator Selection Guide for the Healthcare Industry guidance is intended to help healthcare facilities select the appropriate type of respirator.
State Plans
Cal/OSHA
Standards Board looks to fill void created by NIOSH shutdown
The Standards Board is proposing a special panel to recommend actions to help fill voids in worker safety that may be created by the Trump administration's near-elimination of NIOSH, including certifying personal protective equipment (PPE).
Pending new 'enterprise-wide' violation policy concerns employers
Employer representatives want the pending new policy that means harsher penalties for "egregious" and "enterprise-wide" violations to be reconsidered and softened. The proposed policy stems from Senate Bill 606, which amended Labor Code sections 6317 and 6317.8, adding the new categories of "enterprise-wide" and "egregious" violations. Comments on the policy were accepted at a Mach 25 hearing and written comments were due by April 8.
Under the proposed rule, penalties for enterprise-wide violations would be multiplied by the number of an employer's worksites and penalties for egregious violations would be multiplied by each instance of an employee exposed to those violations. Employer fear punishing monetary fines for minor infractions across multiple sites.
Publications available in new languages
Several publications have been produced in new languages, including those on workplace safety in tree work, restaurant operations, cleanup sites, and wildfire cleanup.
MIOSHA
Take a stand 2025
The 20th anniversary of Take a Stand for Workplace Safety and Health will be August 11 - 15, 2025. Compliance and consultation staff will visit worksites to provide one-on-one consultations focusing on specific hazards and areas, as requested by the employer. There will be no citations or penalties for participating workplaces. However, participants must agree to correct all serious hazards. More information.
2025 worker fatalities
From January 1 through April 15, there have been seven worker fatalities. More information.
MNOSHA
Construction seminar, May 20: Let's talk about cranes in construction
The final construction seminar of the 2024/2025 season will take place at 7 a.m., Tuesday, May 20, in person or online. Topics include:
- Who needs to be a certified or qualified operator?
- Are operators of digger derricks required to be qualified or certified?
- What is required in the testing for certification?
- Does an operator need more than one certification?
- How is an operator certified or qualified?
- What other roles and responsibilities are required in crane operations?
Join in person: Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry, 443 Lafayette Road N., St. Paul, (get directions, parking maps).
Join virtually: Register now to join the meeting.
Fatality, serious-injury investigation summaries online
Each month current and updated summaries of fatality and serious-injury investigations are published online. For the fiscal year that began Oct. 1, 2024, there have been 10 fatalities through April 29. View summaries.
TOSHA
Report: No citations for Impact Plastics-deaths during Hurricane Helene were not work-related
Hurricane Helene caused deadly flooding in Erwin, Tennessee, resulting in the death of five employees and one contractor at Impact Plastics on Sept. 27 after floodwaters washed them away. An investigative report concluded that the workers had time to evacuate, albeit by "makeshift routes." "It was found that Impact Plastics, Inc. exercised reasonable diligence to dismiss employees and direct them to leave the site in this emergency situation," the report concludes.
"Because work operations had stopped and employees had left the building, TOSHA has concluded the tragic deaths of the Impact Plastics employees were not work-related and therefore do not fall within its jurisdiction." While no citations were issued, the company was advised to enhance its emergency preparedness protocols by:
- Developing a site-specific severe weather emergency plan that includes flooding as a weather emergency.
- Training employees and management to recognize potential hazards presented by different types of severe weather, ensuring that inherent delays posed by weather emergencies do not result in delays in evacuating the site when necessary.
- Ensuring that all personnel working in the facility are provided with weather emergency training and participate in weather emergency drills specific to each possible type of severe weather event at the site.
The company faces several wrongful death lawsuits, and there is an ongoing investigation by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.
Recent fines and awards
Georgia
- A Bio-Lab Inc. facility in Conyers was cited for four serious and two other-than-serious violations and proposed $61,473 in penalties after an investigation found that improperly stored hazardous chemicals were the cause of a fire.
Missouri
- An agreement was reached with Jamesport roofing contractor John Troyer, who operated as Troyer Roofing & Coatings, after an investigation determined he failed to provide workers with required fall protection resulting in a teen worker's fatal fall. Under the agreement, Troyer must pay $290,000, which includes $156,259 in OSHA penalties, $15,000 in child labor penalties, and $118,741 in criminal fines to the U.S. Department of Justice. The company will also enroll in the On-Site Safety and Health Consultation Program.
New York
- The Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission (OSHRC) vacated a $124,305 fine in Acting Secretary of Labor v. Dish Network LLC. A Dish Network field technician and field service manager were working to install equipment on the roof of a Sonic fast-food restaurant when two compliance safety and health officers were having lunch across the street and questioned, from afar, whether fall protection was used. The ruling noted a series of photos taken on site were inconclusive as to whether harnesses were in use. Thus, the ALJ concluded the secretary failed to establish "all the elements of his prima facie case."
Pennsylvania
- Wilkes-Barre roofing contractor Luis Alberto-Reyna Avila owner of 3 Guys Home Improvement Inc. was designated a severe violator and faces $476,000 in penalties for exposing workers to dangerous falls and workplace hazards at a Lackawanna County worksite. The company was cited for two willful violations for lack of fall protection and failure to ensure the use of personal protection equipment and 10 serious violations for improper labeling on flammable containers, working near energized power circuits, and improper use of ladders.
Tennessee
- Following an investigation into the deaths of six workers at Impact Plastics during Hurricane Helene, TOSHA concluded that the workers had time to evacuate and were not working at the time of their deaths, therefore, the deaths were not work-related. For more details see OSHA Watch - TOSHA.
Wisconsin
- Roofing contractor, Bacilio Rios Almanza was cited for failing to protect employees atop a residential roof from fatal fall hazards and faces $262,174 in proposed penalties. Citations included two willful violations and one serious violation for failing to provide fall protection equipment, not training workers on fall protection, and not ensuring workers wore hard hats. The contractor has been cited for similar violations in ten other inspections.