Every April, organizations across the United States recognize Workplace Violence Awareness Month, an important time to highlight the risks of workplace violence and the steps necessary to prevent it. It is also an opportunity...more
4/2/2025
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Employee Training ,
Employer Responsibilities ,
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Workplace Violence ,
Workplace Violence Prevention Programs
On February 21, 2025, California Assemblymember LaShae Sharp-Collins (D), representing San Diego, introduced Assembly Bill (AB) No. 1371 (“Right to Refuse Unsafe Work With Pay”) in the California State Assembly....more
In a significant decision regarding workplace inspections, the California Occupational Safety and Health Appeals Board (OSHAB) upheld citations against a California employer after finding the employer had consented to an...more
Workplace violence continues to be a primary concern for employers and a challenge to maintaining workplace safety. Still, it is unclear whether there will be further movement on regulation at the federal level under the...more
On March 7, 2025, Virginia’s General Assembly passed House Bill (HB) 1919, requiring by January 1, 2027, any Virginia employer of one hundred or more employees to develop, implement, and maintain a workplace violence policy....more
In what might have been a Valentine’s Day gift for retail employers across New York, on February 14, 2025, Governor Kathy Hochul signed into law an amendment to the New York Retail Worker Safety Act (S8358B/A8947C, Chapter...more
2/19/2025
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Workplace Safety ,
Workplace Violence Prevention Programs
On October 25, 2021, a customer named Jacob Bergquist, with a history of violating the Boise Towne Square Mall’s firearms ban, opened fire at the mall. The shooting in the Idaho mall led to the deaths of a Professional...more
2/14/2025
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Department of Labor (DOL) ,
Employee Training ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Enforcement Actions ,
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Although later than anticipated, the New York State Legislature has just passed an amendment to the New York Retail Worker Safety Act (S8358C/A8947C, Chapter 308) that would extend the effective date of the act’s workplace...more
The last California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) COVID-19 regulation came into effect on February 3, 2023, with provisions scheduled to sunset on February 3, 2025. There have been no further...more
The New York Retail Worker Safety Act (S8358B/A8947C) has been signed into law and the effective date of March 3, 2025, is fast approaching. Meanwhile, there have been some discussions of a possible amendment before the law...more
On September 27, 2024, Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law legislation that requires the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) to submit a draft rulemaking proposal to revise the California Code...more
This is the tenth installment in a series of articles intended to provide the reader with a very high-level overview of the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Act of 1970 and the Occupational Safety and Health...more
On September 27, 2024, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law legislation that will enhance current healthcare safety regulations by requiring hospitals to implement weapons detection screening and personnel...more
10/2/2024
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Concealed Weapons ,
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Healthcare Facilities ,
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Posting Requirements ,
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Screening Procedures ,
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Workplace Safety
After a summer hiatus, the New York Retail Worker Safety Act (S8358C/A8947C) was delivered to Governor Kathy Hochul on September 4, 2024, and signed into law the same day....more
On September 30, 2023, Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law Senate Bill (SB) No. 553, establishing a new workplace violence prevention standard in California. SB 553 came into effect on July 1, 2024, and the new law requires...more
According to the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA), California’s new heat illness prevention rules for indoor workplaces became effective on July 23, 2024....more
7/25/2024
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Employer Liability Issues ,
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New Regulations ,
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Workplace Safety
The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) will hold an advisory committee meeting on August 19, 2024, to solicit input on proposed regulations concerning enterprise-wide and egregious violations of...more
On June 20, 2024, the California Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board voted unanimously to adopt the latest draft version of Title 8 CCR § 3396, Heat Illness Prevention in Indoor Places of Employment, after a prior...more
On June 20, 2024, the California Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board partially adopted Petition 602—a proposal to require employers to provide opioid overdose reversal medications (e.g., naloxone) at all worksites...more
Effective July 1, 2024, nearly every California employer will be required to implement a comprehensive workplace violence prevention plan with very specific requirements....more
On June 3, 2024, the New York State Assembly passed legislation that would provide workplace safety protections for retail workers, including employee access to panic buttons for retail employers with 500 or more employees...more
On May 8, 2024, the California Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board received the expected notice from the Office of Administrative Law (OAL) that the previously approved indoor heat illness standard was disapproved....more
New York State Senate Bill S8358B, also known as the “Retail Worker Safety Act,” is picking up steam as it progresses toward being enacted into law. On May 9, 2024, the bill was amended for a second time and re-referred to...more
The California Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board changed its agenda just hours before a planned vote on whether to adopt the proposed Heat Illness Prevention in Indoor Places of Employment standard at its March...more
The California Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board will vote to adopt the proposed Heat Illness Prevention in Indoor Places of Employment standard at its March 21, 2024, public meeting....more