6 Common Misconceptions About OSHA Law

By: Carl Habekost, Esq.
chabekost@nullbugbeelawyers.com

There are misunderstandings about OSHA law, OSHA citations, the burden of proof, and other issues which often result in wasted time and resources.  This article will highlight common misperceptions and discuss the correct understanding of these issues.
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Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission Decision Addresses Affirmative Defense and More in Chemical Exposure Accident

By: Carl Habekost, Esq.
chabekost@nullbugbeelawyers.com

The Process Safety Management (PSM), Hazard Communication (HazCom) and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) standards were implicated in a recent decision issued on December 31, 2020 by the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission (OSHRC) in Secretary of Labor v Mansfield Industrial, Inc.

OSHA COVID-19 Citations Rack Up

By: Carl Habekost, Esq.
chabekost@nullbugbeelawyers.com
On January 8, 2021, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced that it has issued citations arising from 300 inspections for violations relating to coronavirus, resulting in proposed penalties totaling $3,930,381.

OSHA Penalties Increased Effective January 15, 2021

Since 2016, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has increased OSHA penalties annually based on the annual percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index, after a 26 year increase hiatus.  The DOL is required to adjust maximum OSHA penalties for inflation annually by the 15th of January.

Protecting Workers: Guidance on Mitigating and Preventing the Spread of COVID-19 in the Workplace

By: Carl Habekost, Esq.
chabekost@nullbugbeelawyers.com
On January 29, 2021 the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) Deputy Assistant Secretary Jim Frederick issued a Guidance statement providing information to employers and employees regarding the implementation of a COVID-19 protection program.