On April 2, 2025, most of the leadership and research scientists at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) were terminated from employment. The termination resulted in a reduction of at least...more
There have been recent growing concerns regarding the inhalation of crystalline silica dust in the California stone countertop industry, with attempts by the California State Legislature to enact regulations improving the...more
OSHA issued an unofficial version of a long-awaited proposed rule addressing heat injury and illness prevention. The official version has yet to be published in the Federal Register. The proposed rule requires employers...more
By Eric J. Conn and Beeta B. Lashkari On July 2, 2024, OSHA revealed an unofficial version of its Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) for an Indoor and Outdoor Heat Illness Prevention Rule. For unknown reasons, OSHA has not...more
This series of articles is intended to provide the reader with a very high-level overview of the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and how both influence...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: Resources and laws supporting best practices to ensure commercial motor vehicle (“CMV”) driver safety include CDC guidance, the Surface Transportation Assistance Act (“STAA”), and OSHA’s Fatigue Rule. 49...more
Though heralded as one of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) top priorities, the introduction of a heat injury and illness prevention standard has yet to happen. According to some reports, OSHA has yet...more
Recently, the United States General Accounting Office (GAO), which is a nonpartisan agency in the legislative branch, took on oversight of the executive branch agency, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). In...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: As Canadian wildfire smoke spreads across the Northern United States, employers should review the CDC/NIOSH guidance on occupational exposure to wildfire smoke and implement effective measures to protect...more
When it became apparent yesterday that the wildfire smoke cascading throughout parts of the Northeastern United States was having a serious health effect on anyone outside and exposed to the harmful particulates contained in...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: The continuing proliferation of accidents involving carbon monoxide have drawn the attention of OSHA and NIOSH, which have issued regulations and recent press releases on the issue....more
Seyfarth Synopsis: The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has released a new set of best practices to assist host employers in better protecting the safety and health of temporary workers....more
Workers may be exposed, and ultimately injured, by exposure to 1,4-dioxane. The principal pathway of exposure, as discussed below, is through inhalation....more
Across the nation in recent weeks, we have seen record heat. These alarming temperatures are not merely an annoyance. They can put thousands of workers at risk. ...more
The use of “leased” employees continues to skyrocket. Between 1992 and 2017, it is estimated that the number of people working for employee leasing firms increased 682%, from 341,884 to 2.7 million. There are a variety of...more
In response to hotter summers and increased wildfires, both Oregon and Washington have recently passed legislation aimed at keeping workers safe in these conditions. Oregon’s OSHA adopted its rules in May of 2022 and...more
On May 9 and 10, 2022, the Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Administration (Oregon OSHA) adopted final rules on heat illness and wildfire smoke. The Oregon OSHA Final Heat Illness Prevention Standard - Oregon...more
Following up on the new excessive heat rules, Oregon has issued temporary rules to protect employees from wildfire smoke, which will remain in place for six months while the Oregon Occupational Safety and Health...more
Since early last year, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued several Emergency Use Authorizations (EUAs) for personal protective equipment (PPE) products to address concerns about their availability...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: OSHA Region V has recently adopted an Instruction to establish a Regional Emphasis Program (REP) for conducting inspections of select manufacturing industries with hearing loss rates higher than the...more
Heat-related illness can affect various industries and work environments. As temperatures rise this summer, it is important for businesses to have a plan to address heat-related illness to protect both the employer and its...more
On March 12, 2021, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued a National Emphasis Program (“NEP”), signaling a renewed focus on COVID-19 under the Biden Administration. A NEP is a temporary program that focuses...more
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is scheduled to publish a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) on February 16, 2021, that would modify the Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) to conform to the United...more
Eight months into the coronavirus (“COVID-19”) pandemic and employers in both healthcare and non-healthcare settings are grappling with requirements for employees’ use of personal protective equipment (“PPE”) and respiratory...more
As concern about availability of personal protective equipment (“PPE”) continues to grow amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal government continues to take action aimed at increasing the availability of PPE with important...more