Fall protection is a vital part of construction safety programs, but as is well-known, a lot of times workers don’t use the equipment or don’t use it properly. Workers’ excuses range from complaints that the equipment slows them down, makes …
There’s great news in a recent report from OSHA – injury and illness rates, collectively known as recordables, were down sharply in 2009 compared with 2005. As you can see from the chart below, the trend line moved on a …
While OSHA readies itself for a fight over its Fiscal 2012 budget, another big battle is looming over a proposal that OSHA administrator David Michaels views as the centerpiece of his campaign to exert more enforcement pressure on industry. That …
OSHA’s request for a budget increase in Fiscal 2012, including funding for more inspectors, is likely to face substantial resistance from the Republican majority in the House if current activity is any indication. OSHA is coming under attack from Republicans …
If you want an example of what a company can do to turn in a great safety performance, you need look no further than National Steel City, a construction company specializing in steel and power industry equipment installation. National Steel …
With the President trying to accommodate business on the issue of excessive regulation, OSHA seems to be trying to walk a tightrope in its budget request for 2012. The agency is asking for 25 additional compliance officers. That is in …
In its second course reversal in a week, OSHA has withdrawn a proposal to step up recordkeeping requirements for ergonomic injuries, naturally raising questions about what else the agency might be rethinking. My suggestion is to look next at the …
OSHA announced Wednesday it was withdrawing a proposed interpretation of noise standards that could have presented some employers with onerous costs to retrofit equipment. It is the first major about-face for OSHA since it began a dramatic ramp-up of enforcement …
In an opinion piece in the Wall Street Journal published Tuesday, President Obama announced an initiative to review ineffective government regulations that hinder the economy. The President said the purpose of the review was to “make sure we avoid excessive, …
As OSHA pushes forward with tougher enforcement, the critical role played by the legal office of the Department of Labor is not always fully appreciated. The office of the Solicitor of Labor is not a part of OSHA, but handles …