OSHA News

Vaccinated California Workers May Have to Keep Masks on

California is set to fully reopen in less than two weeks and do away with virtually all mask and social distancing requirements for vaccinated people. But officials who regulate workplaces in the state aren’t ready to go that far and …

Illinois Lighting Company Faces $85K in OSHA Penalties for Worker Injuries

Federal workplace safety officials have cited an Illinois lighting manufacturer with workplace safety violations and imposed $85,000 in penalties after an employee suffered severe facial burns. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration said a master maintenance technician for North American …

OSHA Prepares to Issue Emergency Regulations to Protect Workers from COVID-19

Mask mandates are coming down across the country, even as COVID cases are rising in most states. But the Biden administration appears poised to reinstate masking and other social distancing rules for recalcitrant governors — at least in the workplace. …

Ohio Manufacturing Facility Cited for Unsafe Conditions; Fined $119K

A Ohio manufacturer of power distribution products has been cited for 11 serious workplace safety violations and faces $119,000 in penalties, federal workplace safety officials said. In response to a January 2021 complaint, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration investigated …

OSHA to Review COVID-19 Workplace Safety Enforcement Under Trump

Federal workplace safety regulators said on Friday they will revisit several COVID-19 related safety investigations performed during the Trump administration as part of a wider effort to better protect workers from the pandemic. The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration …

OSHA Updates Targeted Workplaces Inspection Program

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is updating its inspection program that targets its enforcement resources to establishments with the highest rates of injuries and illnesses. The Site-Specific Targeting (SST) Directive is OSHA’s primary targeting program for non-construction establishments …

Expansion of Workers’ Compensation for COVID-19 in 6 States Created Narrow Benefit

While at least 17 states have passed laws or issued orders that expanded access to workers’ compensation benefits for employees who contract COVID-19, many of those directives are creating new exposure for only a sliver of the workforce, new research …

Louisiana Health System Cited for Coronavirus Safety Violations

A healthcare system in Shreveport, Louisiana, has been cited by federal workplace safety officials for failing to protect employees from coronavirus exposure. The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cited Christus Shreveport-Bossier Health System for failing …

Ohio Nursing Facilities Cited for Inadequate Respiratory Protection

An Ohio healthcare company has been cited by federal officials for violating respiratory protection standards. The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited OHNH EMP LLC an inspection initiated after the company reported the coronavirus-related …

Investigations Continue Following Blast at Maine Paper Mill

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration inspection of the site of a paper mill blast could take several more months. OSHA has until six months after the date it entered the Pixell Specialty Solutions mill on April 17 to complete …