Kevin Mayer (US)

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OSHA Plans Big Changes to Process Safety Management Standard

By Kevin Mayer (US) and Kevin MacNeill on September 20, 2022 Posted in United States

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration is contemplating several, and extensive, changes to its existing Process Safety Management (PSM) standard, and will be seeking public comments. Broadly speaking, the PSM standard requires employers to implement safety programs that identify, evaluate and control highly hazardous chemicals. Contemplated changes to the current PSM … Continue reading

US: Labor Department Sets Occupational Safety & Health Meeting

By Kevin Mayer (US) on June 4, 2021 Posted in Coronavirus, North America, United States

The National Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety and Health will conduct a virtual meeting on June 22, 2021, to address current workplace issues and its prior work. The details are set forth in today’s U.S. Department of Labor announcement. The DOL and federal OSHA have been shifting priorities since the initiation of the Biden Administration, … Continue reading

US: Cal/OSHA publishes new standard that causes confusion for California employers

By Josh Henderson (US) and Kevin Mayer (US) on June 1, 2021 Posted in Coronavirus, North America, United States

On May 28, 2021, the employer community got its first glimpse of a revised Cal/OSHA emergency, temporary standard (ETS) for COVID-19 that may become law by June 15, 2021. That day—June 15—is significant because it is the date the governor set as a goal for California to “fully open its economy.” In addition, the CDC’s … Continue reading

US: OSHA Notices HazCom Hearing

By Kevin Mayer (US) on May 20, 2021 Posted in General, North America, United States

We reported previously on federal OSHA’s efforts to revise and update various provisions of the Hazard Communication Standard in order to pursue greater workplace safety. On May 20, 2021, OSHA announced an informal public hearing commencing on September 21, 2021 for the purpose of entertaining stakeholder comments and recommendations. For more information, please see this … Continue reading

New US federal OSHA pamphlet issued

By Kevin Mayer (US) on May 17, 2021 Posted in North America, United States

A new federal OSHA pamphlet has been issued. The OSHA pamphlet, “PPE for Emergency Response and Recovery Workers,” provides guidance to employers on the proper selection and use of and training concerning personal protective equipment in responding to emergencies and other incidents requiring it. Among other advice, OSHA reminds employers of the four levels (A … Continue reading

US: Mandatory COVID-19 vaccines and employer health and safety obligations

By Kevin Mayer (US) on April 29, 2021 Posted in Coronavirus, North America, United States

Federal OSHA has recently released guidance advising on employer health and safety obligations when employers require employees to receive the COVID-19 vaccination as a condition of employment. Specifically, OSHA addresses the potential (albeit rare to date) of an employee who incurs an adverse reaction to a mandated vaccination. In such a situation, the reaction will … Continue reading

US: Combating Human Trafficking of Domestic Workers In The United States

By Kevin Mayer (US) and Jackie Karama (US) on March 22, 2021 Posted in North America, United States

It is difficult to imagine that the evil of human trafficking, and all the pain and suffering it entails, can still be so pervasive this deep into the 21st Century. One would have expected that contemporary domestic and international law enforcement, to say nothing of the United Nations and all the monies it has at … Continue reading

US: Occupational Safety and Health Administration proposal to update Hazard Communication Standard

By Kevin Mayer (US) on February 10, 2021 Posted in North America, United States

On February 5, 2021, federal OSHA issued a proposed rule to update the US Department of Labor’s Hazard Communication Standard (HCS or HazCom) to align with the seventh revision of the United Nations’ Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS). In support of its proposed rule, OSHA asserts the update will increase … Continue reading

US: Virginia becomes first state to adopt COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standard

By Kevin Mayer (US) and Jackie Karama (US) on August 12, 2020 Posted in Coronavirus, North America, United States

On July 27, 2020, the first state “Emergency Temporary Standard” (ETS) for COVID-19 went into effect. The ETS requires employers in the state to develop and implement COVID-19 prevention and control measures in the workplace. The ETS is in effect for six months, although this period could be shortened if the Virginia State of Emergency … Continue reading