A recent case in the 7th Circuit, upholding the criminal convictions of two supervisors based on their falsification of health and safety records, serves as an important reminder that although uncommon, the Occupational...more
6/30/2025
/ Appeals ,
Criminal Penalties ,
Criminal Prosecution ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Employer Responsibilities ,
Enforcement Actions ,
False Reporting ,
Health and Safety ,
Inspections ,
OSHA ,
Recordkeeping Requirements ,
Supervisors ,
Workplace Safety
On July 2, 2024, OSHA released its long-awaited national heat illness and injury prevention standard as predicated in an earlier blog article. It applies to all employers conducting outdoor and indoor work in all general...more
As we head into the New Year, it is a good time for businesses to review OSHA’s cold stress guidance (link below). OSHA reminds employers that monitoring the wind chill temperature and workers’ physical condition while...more
OSHA recently shared preliminary data for its Top 10 list in fiscal year 2023 which ended September 30, 2023. They are listed below in order of most frequently cited:
1. Fall Protection – General Requirements (1926.501)-...more
Creating a strong safety culture in a business has many components. It requires the commitment and participation of the executive management team and all supervisory and non-supervisory employees throughout the organization....more
Every business in the United States has been asking itself these past few days whether to drop any requirements it may have for visitors or employees to wear face masks since the CDC changed its COVID-19 guidance related to...more
5/20/2021
/ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Health and Safety ,
Masks ,
New Guidance ,
OSHA ,
Retailers ,
Social Distancing ,
State and Local Government ,
Vaccinations ,
Vaccine Passports ,
Workplace Safety
On May 5, 2021, Governor Cuomo of New York signed the New York Health and Essential Rights Act (HERO Act) into law. The HERO Act creates occupational safety and health standards in the private sector for all airborne...more
5/14/2021
/ Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Emergency Management Plans ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employer Responsibilities ,
Health and Safety ,
Infectious Diseases ,
New Legislation ,
Reasonable Prevention Procedures ,
State and Local Government ,
State Labor Laws ,
Workplace Safety
On May 5, 2021, Governor Cuomo of New York signed the New York Health and Essential Rights Act (the “Act”) into law which amends the New York Labor Law. The Act creates occupational safety and health standards in the private...more
5/10/2021
/ Best Practices ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Employee Handbooks ,
Governor Cuomo ,
Health and Essential Rights (HERO) Act ,
Health and Safety ,
Infectious Diseases ,
OSHA ,
Re-Opening Guidelines ,
Risk Management ,
State and Local Government ,
Workplace Safety
Both federal and state OSHA regulators have been regularly citing employers for failure to comply with their respective respiratory protection standards in connection with COVID-19 inspections and these citations have not...more
In today's episode, Mike Schmidt is joined by his colleague and the Chair of Cozen O'Connor's OSHA Practice Group, John Ho, to talk about the new guidance (finally?) issued by OSHA on the Covid-19 pandemic. What did the...more
On January 29, 2021, OSHA issued revised COVID-19 updated guidance for employers following an executive order issued by President Biden directing the agency to do so. The guidance contains many suggestions that employers are...more
2/4/2021
/ Biden Administration ,
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Emergency Management Plans ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Health and Safety ,
Infectious Diseases ,
OSHA ,
Policies and Procedures ,
Public Health ,
Workplace Safety
Almost immediately after taking office, President Biden issued an Executive Order requiring OSHA to publish revised COVID-19 guidance for employers, among other things.
The revised guidance contains many suggestions that...more
As the evolving coronavirus virus (COVID-19) first discovered in China continues to grow in both China and other countries including the United States, businesses here need to consider a number of factors in preparing a...more
As the evolving coronavirus virus (COVID-19) first discovered in China continues to grow in both China and other countries including the United States, businesses here need to consider a number of factors in preparing a...more
2/27/2020
/ Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) ,
Best Practices ,
Business Continuity Plans ,
China ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Emergency Management Plans ,
Employee Privacy Rights ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) ,
Health and Safety ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Leave of Absence ,
OSHA ,
Policies and Procedures ,
Public Health ,
Risk Management ,
Title VII ,
Wage and Hour ,
Workplace Safety
On June 19, 2017, American Airlines announced it cancelled approximately 45 regional flights due to intense summer heat in the Phoenix area and there were record highs recorded in the region. The intense heat waves serves as...more