The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit rejected a lawsuit filed by the AFL-CIO that would have forced the Occupational Safety & Health Administration to create an emergency workplace safety rule, called an “emergency...
When we talk about recordable incidents under the guise of OSHA, we are always thinking about the numbers. Where do we fall in a specific quartile against other similar size companies and competitors? Does our experience-...
On May 19, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced the availability of $11.5 million in Susan Harwood Training Grants. The grants are available to non-profit organizations only, including labor unions...
On May 19, OSHA adopted revised policies for enforcing its requirements with respect to the coronavirus in response to the transition that states are making to reopen throughout the country. “Throughout the course of the...
Electrical workers face a number of job hazards every day. However, poor housekeeping is often overlooked as a leading cause of injuries and fatalities in the workplace. Cluttered work sites lead to far too many preventable...
The National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET) lists various Occupational Safety and Health Administration documents as reference material for all levels in the Fire Alarm Systems certification...
On April 13, OSHA released its Interim Enforcement Response Plan to protect workers during the COVID-19 epidemic. “The response plan provides instructions and guidance to OSHA Area Offices and compliance safety and health...
On April 10, OSHA issued enforcement guidance related to requirements for recording cases of COVID-19. The accompanying press release noted that, under OSHA’s recordkeeping requirements, COVID-19 is a recordable illness, and...
On March 9, OSHA published “Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19,” as a way to help companies respond in the event of coronavirus in the workplace. The guidance was developed in collaboration with the U.S. Department...
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration outreach programs help employers to achieve a safer workplace; examples include the OSHA Alliance Program, OSHA Strategic Partnership Program, Voluntary Protection Programs...
No two construction projects are alike when it comes to safety requirements and challenges. Every electrician and construction worker brings their own level of safety training. Owners and general contractors have unique...
Jim Dollard has an extensive background in codes and standards. If you have a query about the National Electrical Code (NEC) , Jim will help you solve it. Send questions to codefaqs@gmail.com. Answers are based on the 2020...
On Sept. 30, 2019, Eugene Scalia was sworn in as the head of the U.S. Department of Labor, which is responsible for oversight and operation of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Scalia was a labor attorney and...
After several years of a reduced number of inspections, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration performed more inspections in 2019 than they in any year since 2016. From fiscal year (FY) Oct. 1, 2013 to Sept. 3...
Tools are an absolute necessity in our industry. They can also be the source of dire consequences if used improperly or for the wrong job. However, there are resources and safeguards that can be used to prevent accidents from...
Mobile service employees working on temporary residential and commercial job sites face unique challenges, including airborne toxins (such as mold), driving hazards, vermin, unruly pets and even poisonous animals. Fortunately...
Beginning Oct. 1, 2019 (the beginning of OSHA’s 2020 fiscal year), OSHA will utilize a new weighting system for its inspections. The new OSHA Weighing System (OWS) is designed to replace the former system, which was...
OSHA’s HAZARD COMMUNICATION STANDARD (HCS) is intended to ensure hazards in all chemicals are classified, and that information concerning these hazards is communicated to employers and employees through container labeling...
In 1994, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) launched its "Focus Four" initiative, targeting the top four safety hazards in construction: falls from heights, electrocution, crushing injuries (such as...
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is sometimes thought of as an organization focused on the negative—always looking for what is going wrong in a workplace. But it’s with good reason the organization...
