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
/ Amended Legislation ,
Effective Date ,
Employee Training ,
Enforcement ,
Notice Requirements ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Retail Workers ,
Retailers ,
State Labor Laws ,
Time Extensions ,
Training Requirements ,
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
/ Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) ,
Department of Labor (DOL) ,
Employee Training ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Enforcement Actions ,
General Duty Clause ,
OSH Act ,
OSHA ,
OSHRC ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
Risk Management ,
Workplace Safety ,
Workplace Violence
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
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
/ Cal-OSHA ,
Concealed Weapons ,
Employee Training ,
Employer Responsibilities ,
Governor Newsom ,
Healthcare Facilities ,
Hospitals ,
New Legislation ,
Notice Requirements ,
Posting Requirements ,
Safety Standards ,
Screening Procedures ,
Training Requirements ,
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
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
/ Cal-OSHA ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Health and Safety ,
Heat Exposure ,
New Regulations ,
Occupational Exposure ,
Safety Precautions ,
Severe Weather ,
State Labor Laws ,
Training Requirements ,
Workplace Hazards ,
Workplace Safety
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
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
On February 8, 2024, California Assembly Member Joaquin Arambula (D-31) introduced legislation to require employees to obtain heat illness prevention certification from the California Division of Occupational Safety and...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 December 22, 2023, the California Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board published further modifications of the draft indoor heat illness standard. The modifications, which were based on suggestions received in...more
The draft indoor heat illness prevention standard continues to work its way through the Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board’s rulemaking process. On November 9, 2023, the Board published proposed modifications to...more
Workplace safety and health hazards have traditionally been associated with unsafe work practices and hazardous conditions but violent acts committed in the workplace are a growing concern.
On September 30, 2023, Governor...more