Regulation
OSHA Issues Proposed Rulemaking Allowing Nonemployees into Workplaces
On August 29, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued its new notice of proposed rulemaking on its process for employees to designate a worker walkaround representative. The proposal allows employees to authorize third parties, including labor unions or community organizers, to accompany an OSHA Compliance Safety and Health Officer during a facility inspection when they are “reasonably…
Read MoreOSHA Issues Rulemaking Reinstating Obama-era Injury and Illness Reporting Requirements
On July 17, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued its final rule expanding reporting requirements for injury and illness data for employers in high-hazard industries. The rule takes effect on January 1, 2024. The rule requires certain employers to electronically submit to OSHA information from their OSHA Form 300 (Log of Work-Related Injuries and…
Read MoreOSHA Announces Targeted Regulatory Activity for 2023
On January 4, 2023, the Biden administration issued its Fall 2022 Regulatory Agenda, in which each federal agency announces its planned regulatory activity for the upcoming year. OSHA included several rulemakings CWS has been following and opposing, as well as two new items that are deeply concerning. Heat Illness Prevention in Outdoor and Indoor Work…
Read MoreCWS Files Comments on OSHA’s Injury & Illness Recordkeeping Rule
On June 30, CWS and 62 organizations submitted comments on OSHA’s proposed rule, Improve Tracking of Workplace Injuries and Illnesses. In our comments, we express our deep concerns with the agency’s attempt to require electronic submission of employer summary data and individual employee injury and illness data. As we explained, “OSHA’s proposed rule does not…
Read MoreCWS Files Comments on OSHA’s Healthcare ETS
On Friday, April 22, CWS filed comments on OSHA’s Interim Final Rule establishing a COVID-19 healthcare Emergency Temporary Standard, “Occupational Exposure to COVID-19 in Healthcare Settings.” Our comments raised several procedural concerns with the rulemaking. Specifically, we addressed 1) OSHA’s lack of transparency and notice in developing the Healthcare ETS and, now, a final standard;…
Read MoreOSHA Issues New Proposal on Improving Tracking of Workplace Injuries and Illnesses
On March 28, OSHA issued a new Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to improve tracking of workplace injuries and illnesses. The rule would require entities with 100 or more employees in specified industries to electronically submit information from their OSHA Forms 300, 301, and 300A on an annual basis to OSHA. The agency plans to post…
Read MoreCWS Submits Comments on Heat Injury and Illness Prevention ANPRM
On February 4, CWS submitted comments to OSHA on the agency’s Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Heat Injury and Illness Prevention in Indoor and Outdoor Settings. CWS expressed its support for OSHA’s current approach to addressing heat-related illnesses, including the agency’s Water, Rest, Shade guidance, that is designed to be flexibly applied to meet…
Read MoreOSHA Officially Withdraws ETS
On January 25, 2022, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) officially withdrew its COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing Emergency Temporary Standard following the Supreme Court issuing its stay of the rule. The ETS therefore will not go into effect.
Read MoreOSHA ETS Stayed by Supreme Court
On January 13, the Supreme Court stayed the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing Emergency Temporary Standard, halting implementation of the rule nationwide. The 6-3 decision temporarily stays the rule pending the outcome of a decision on the merits by the Sixth Circuit and any subsequent petition for review of that…
Read MoreCWS Requests Extension to Heat Illness Comment Period
On November 9, the Coalition for Workplace Safety requested an additional 60 days for the comment period on the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s heat injury and illness prevention advanced notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPRM). The coalition asked OSHA to double the current comment period, which is only 60 days, to a full 120 days.…
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