OSHA watch
Two important deadlines are approaching
The annual summary of injuries and illnesses recorded on OSHA Form 300A, Summary of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses, must be posted where notices are customarily located in workplaces, no later than February 1, 2025, and kept in place until April 30, 2025.
The second important date is March 2, which is the deadline date for certain establishments to electronically submit information about recordable injuries and illnesses entered on their previous calendar year's Form 300A Summary of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses, Form 300 Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses, and 301 Injury and Illness Incident Report through the secure Injury Tracking Application (ITA). Employers can submit between January 2 and March 2, 2025.
Detailed 2023 data publicized on more than 890,000 reported workplace injuries and illnesses
For the first time, comprehensive details on injuries and illnesses reported by employers, including employer names and workplace locations where reported incidents occurred, descriptions of injuries and illnesses, events and causes leading to reportable incidents, and more are available to the public. Employers should be prepared to respond to inquiries from unions, the media, employees, and others about the data.
Final rule for PPE in Construction released
The revision to the personal protective equipment (PPE) rule for construction adds specific language requiring that employers provide PPE that properly fits construction industry workers. The standard does not define "proper fit," and the final rule notes that a "proper fit" should be comfortable for the employee. This final rule is effective January 13, 2025.
Fall 2024 regulatory agenda released
The Fall 2024 regulatory agenda had few changes in rulemaking status from the Spring 2024 agenda. The long-awaited revisions to the standard on mechanical power presses moved to the pre-rule stage from long-term actions. The agency plans to analyze comments on the update until at least July. The Process Safety Management and Prevention of Major Chemical Accidents rulemaking has moved back to the pre-rule stage from the proposed rule stage. There is also a push to publicize the proposed rule on infectious diseases for the healthcare industry and "other high-risk environments" before Inauguration Day.
Inspectors to wear smart glasses
While there is little information available, a December 2 press release by Vuzix Corporation announced that the deployment of AI driven smart glasses, equipped with cameras, sensors, and internet connectivity, will be expanded during inspections. The announcement has raised concerns in the employer community regarding privacy, covert documenting and surveillance, and unsecure storage.
Although it is anticipated that additional information on the use of smart glasses will be provided, employers should have a plan if inspectors show up and plan to wear smart glasses. It's crucial to protect the worksite, confidential information, and workers' privacy rights.
New arc-flash hazard guidance issued
Protecting Employees from Electric-Arc Flash Hazards includes tips for employers on implementing administrative controls and using PPE, along with identifying and assessing hazards. There also is a video showing the differences between wearing and not wearing AR clothing during an arc flash incident.
Amazon agrees to worker safety measures
Amazon settled a series of complaints involving 10 facilities across the country, agreeing to adopt measures to reduce musculoskeletal injuries, establish a process to review and correct hazards identified by workers, and pay $145,000 in penalties.
MSHA
Regulation update
The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) has issued a final rule on the Testing, Evaluation, and Approval of Electric Motor-Driven Mine Equipment and Accessories intended for use in gassy mines, effective January 9, 2025.
Impact inspection results
Impact inspections in November 2024 at 14 mines in Alabama, California, Colorado, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia resulted in 162 violations and one safeguard. Forty-four were evaluated by inspectors as significant and substantial and one had an unwarrantable failure finding. More information.
State Plans
Cal/OSHA
Regulation updates
Silica
On December 19, The Standards Board unanimously voted to incorporate additional requirements from the emergency temporary standard into the existing permanent standard. The changes will be effective approximately February 5, 2025, unless the Office of Administrative Law (OAL) approves it earlier.
Lead
Employers impacted by the changes to the lead regulations should prepare for enforcement, which began on January 1.
Cone and Bar Barricade System
The December 2024 meeting served as the public hearing for proposed changes to Section 1635 (Floors, Walls and Structural Steel Framed Buildings) allowing for cone and bar barricade systems as an alternative to guardrails or floor covers.
Two new enforcement units
The New Region 8 unit (Modesto, Fresno, Bakersfield) is ramping up. In addition, there is an Agricultural Enforcement Task Force, a state-wide unit that will run like the Labor Enforcement Task Force (LETF) or the High Hazard Unit, as its own unit with five district offices and multiple field offices, focusing on agricultural employers.
MIOSHA
31 work-related fatalities reported in 2024
The preliminary data on work-related fatalities reflects the information provided at the initial report of the incidents and are not the result of the official investigations.
Agency Instructions issued
Nov. 6, 2024 - MIOSHA Training Institute (MTI) Scholarship Procedures
Nov. 12, 2024 - Whistleblower Investigations Manual
Nov. 14, 2024 - Inspection and Citation Policy for Accident Prevention Programs and First Aid Training
MNOSHA
Fatal injuries decreased
Seventy fatal work injuries were recorded in 2023 down ten from the eighty fatal work injuries in 2022. Read more about industry, occupation, worker characteristics, and type of incident.
Report and recommendations for meat, poultry processing workers
The Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) issued a report detailing recommendations for meat and poultry processing workers to fulfill a requirement of the Safe Workplaces for Meat and Poultry Processing Workers Act (Safe Workplaces Act) passed in 2023.
Youth Skills Training grants open for application Jan. 8
The Youth Skills Training program promotes partnerships between schools, employers, and community organizations to give students classroom instruction and paid work experience in high-demand occupations. Applications opened Jan. 8, 2025.
Recent fines and awards
California
- Parkwood Landscape Maintenance, a Van Nuys-based landscaping company, became the first company to receive a serious willful heat violation. It faces penalties of $276,425 for failing to provide workers with required heat-related protections.
- Harbor Animal Services Center, a San Pedro-based animal services center faces $563,250 in penalties for failing to evaluate and correct overcrowding at the animal shelter, which resulted in animal attacks of employees. Los Angeles City Animal Services, which runs the operation, was cited for six violations.
Florida
- Masci General Contractor, a Jacksonville contractor, faces $216,633 in proposed penalties for failing to provide essential cave-in protection and exposing workers to struck-by hazards while they worked in the excavation.
- K T Carter, a Jacksonville contractor, faces $146,803 in proposed penalties for exposing workers to unprotected trenches.
Georgia
- A Marietta tree trimming contractor, Serious Tree Services LLC, received four serious violations after a 38-year-old worker was fatally electrocuted. Proposed penalties are $29,035.
Illinois
- Fino Exterior, a Lake Zurich roofing contractor, was cited for the eighth time since 2020 for exposing workers to falls from elevation and received citations for 13 safety violations in three inspections in four months with proposed $262,631 in penalties.
- Sunrun Installation Services Inc. of Des Plaines, a solar panel and battery storage company, received repeat citations for exposing workers to fall hazards while installing solar panels at two residential homes in the Chicago suburbs and faces penalties of $288,087.
Minnesota
- Columbia Heights-based Your Lake Aquatic Plant Management LLC faces penalties of $730,369, the highest ever issued, for violating commercial diving standards that resulted in the drowning of an 18-year-old worker in May 2024. The company is contesting the fine.
Pennsylvania
- A suit has been filed against the U.S. Postal Service and two of its managers for wrongly terminating a contracted employee who raised safety concerns about loading dock equipment at the Charleroi Post Office.
North Carolina
- A Maryland-based contractor, Coastal Gunite Construction Co., was cited after a 47-year-old diver suffered fatal injuries during an underwater dive test on the first day of his job at the Manns Harbor Bridge on Croatan Sound. The company was cited for four serious violations and proposed $40,329 in penalties, the maximum allowed.
Wisconsin
- Pizza Parlor of Iron River has agreed to pay $99,000 in fines after an investigation found the business assigned teenage employees to dangerous duties, including operating a hot oven and meat grinder and working beyond allowed hours.