OSHA has recently begun issuing many more “egregious” citations, in which the agency proposes a separate penalty for each instance of noncompliance with OSHA recordkeeping regulations, safety and health standards, and with the general duty clause. These can add up to “mega-penalties.” But it may be difficult for OSHA to sustain its burden of proof should these citations be appealed. Read full article.
One of the most persistent sources of problems we see as safety consultants is confusion over how to handle OSHA recordkeeping requirements for accidents and illnesses. Arthur Sapper, an attorney with McDermott Will & Emery and a leader in OSHA …
OSHA’s recent proposal of $16.6 million in penalties in a deadly explosion at a Kleen Energy Systems construction site in Connecticut drew a lot of attention. Less noticed, but in a way equally significant, were the day-in, day-out announcement of …
OSHA is giving very specific guidance as to which companies with high rates of workplace injuries can expect to see an OSHA inspector soon. The 4,100 companies on the list were identified from a larger list of 15,000 employers who …
OSHA’s reported decision to suspend a pilot program cracking down on alleged under-reporting of accidents and illnesses doesn’t mean that recordkeeping requirements aren’t being enforced, as a recent OSHA announcement illustrates. OSHA is proposing $1.2 million in penalties against Goodman …
An industry newsletter is reporting that OSHA is suspending a pilot program to crackdown on alleged under-reporting of accidents and illnesses because the program has not found significant numbers of violations. OSHA announced the program last year and said it …
Over past years, in a limited number of cases, OSHA has alleged a separate violation and proposed a separate penalty for each instance of non-compliance with OSHA recordkeeping regulations, safety and health standards and with the general duty clause. The …
There’s no question that along with OSHA’s big enforcement push has come a substantial increase in the number of violations labeled “willful” or “repeated.” The consequences of such citations are potentially severe from the standpoints of financial impact, public relations …
A bill to tighten enforcement in OSHA and MSHA advanced a step Wednesday, receiving approval in the House Education and Labor Committee in a vote along party lines. The changes to OSHA were originally in a bill called the Protecting …
Proposed changes to OSHA that are now working their way through Congress, including increased penalties, focus on punishing employers and will not improve workplace safety and health, a representative of a coalition of employer groups testified Tuesday. “Penalties alone will …