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Washington — Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Bernie Sanders (I-VT) are among six legislators calling on the Department of Labor Office of Inspector General to investigate OSHA’s “handling of inspections and citations” during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as DOL’s decision not to issue an emergency temporary standard on infectious diseases.
In Episode 3, the Safety+Health editorial team looks at the topic of control banding – “using what is known to try to manage the unknown.” Also: Former OSHA inspector Paul McNeill shares insights about what employers should – and shouldn't – do when OSHA comes knocking.
Washington — “Good-faith efforts” by employers to comply with worker safety regulations during the COVID-19 pandemic should be taken into “strong consideration,” OSHA states in an April 16 memo to area offices and inspectors.
Washington — OSHA is instructing area directors to prioritize COVID-19-related inspections according to a workplace’s risk of exposure and in coordination with regional offices.
The likelihood of receiving a visit from an OSHA inspector is slim. Still, experts – including former OSHA staffers – say having a plan in place goes a long way.
Washington — Secretary of Labor R. Alexander Acosta touted the number of annual OSHA inspections conducted over the past two fiscal years – despite the agency being short-staffed – during an April 3 congressional appropriations hearing, saying he expects an increase when recently hired inspectors get fully up to speed.
New York — OSHA enforcement activity “continues to decline” under the Trump administration, according to the National Employment Law Project, citing the agency’s own metrics. The advocacy group also claims that OSHA’s fatality/catastrophe investigations climbed to their highest level in a decade in fiscal year 2018.
Washington — A leading House Democrat has sent a letter to Secretary of Labor R. Alexander Acosta regarding OSHA’s reported decline in enforcement activities and its current inspector staffing level, among other subjects.
