Sarah Trotto

Several industry groups have filed a legal challenge to block OSHA’s recently released recordkeeping rule requiring certain employers to electronically submit on an annual basis worker injury and illness information, which will then be made publicly available. Among their concerns are the rule’s anti-retaliation provisions.

Some call it a Job Safety Analysis. Others call it a Job Hazard Analysis, a Task Hazard Analysis or something else. Regardless of how you label it, the process of breaking down a task into steps, identifying the hazards, and determining how to mitigate those hazards remains crucial to preventing incidents and injuries.

Research shows that workers who have been on the job for less than one month are more than 3 times as likely to have a lost-time work injury. Experts say orientation and training are crucial to keeping new workers safe.

Labor and industry groups that have expressed support for OSHA’s final rule on silica are among those challenging the rule in court.

To mark Workers’ Memorial Week, advocacy groups issued reports and called for increased worker protections and additional research to prevent on-the-job injuries.

OSHA announced on March 24 the release of a final rule intended to protect workers from respirable crystalline silica. The agency claims the rule will save more than 600 lives and prevent more than 900 cases of the lung disease silicosis per year, but critics argue the rule is unnecessary and compliance will be costly.

Workers who are dealing with or recovering from cancer often face challenges – such as fatigue – that can affect job performance and safety. But experts say employers can offer accommodations to help these workers stay on the job.

The Chemical Safety Board has been urging OSHA to promulgate a general industry standard for combustible dust since 2006. But where can facilities look for guidance right now?

As hotels compete to offer more luxurious settings for their guests, “housekeepers often are having to work even harder and more quickly,” one expert says. While one state considers a safety and health standard for hotel housekeeping workers, advocates are calling for stronger protections and better ergonomics training.