Category: OSHA
New Process Safety Management for Refineries in Washington Coming in 2024
The Department of Labor and Industries has updated workplace safety rules targeted at preventing catastrophic events at petroleum refineries as defined in WAC Chapter 296-67…
Substitute House Bill Passed to Address Surgical Smoke Hazards in Washington
Governor Jay Inslee signed into law Substitute House Bill (SHB) 1779 to address surgical smoke hazards in hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers in hopes to…
Washington Department of Labor & Industries Implement Changes to Red Card Appeals Processes and Discrimination Adjudication Processes in August
The Washington Department of Labor & Industries intends to implement the provisions of 2021’s Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1097 later this month. This bill made…
Updated Heat Protections Rules in Washington Implemented Year-Round Focusing on Shade, Cool-Down Rest Periods and Monitoring of Workers.
On July 17, 2023, new changes went into effect under WAC 296-62-095 and WAC 296-307-097 expanding the existing requirements relating to outdoor heat exposure. These…
Oregon OSHA – Senate Bill 592A Significantly Expands Oregon OSHA Investigation Authority and Substantially Increases Civil Penalties.
Oregon lawmakers have approved a bill that expands OSHA investigation authority and increase the penalties businesses face when they violate workplace safety rules. Governor Tina…
Climate change shapes the Department’s proposed rule changes for outdoor heat exposure safety in Washington
Summer is right around the corner and every year, outdoor temperatures are rising due to climate change. Before the first heat wave sets in, now…
Oregon OSHA Adopts Permanent Rules to Protect Workers From Extreme Heat and Wildfire Smoke
Effective June 15, 2022 and July 1, 2022 Oregon OSHA’s new rules addressing the prevention of heat related illness and wildfire smoke exposure, respectively. Oregon…
Sixth Circuit Upholds Vaccine Mandate for Large Employers
Earlier this month, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit lifted a stay by the Fifth Circuit on President Biden’s federal vaccine mandate…
Washington Supreme Court Issues Ruling on WISHA Violations for Staffing Agencies
In the recent Tradesman case, the Washington Supreme Court addressed whether in the joint employer context, staffing agencies may be liable employers for safety violations…
Federal OSHA Emergency Temporary Standard on vaccination and testing for employees is temporarily stayed by 5th Circuit Court of Appeals
Over the past 18 months, employers have learned to adapt to rapidly changing circumstances in light of the Covid-19 pandemic. The recent spate of vaccine…
OSHA Reveals Standard to Implement Vaccine Mandate
On November 4, 2021, the Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) released its Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) which implements President Biden’s vaccine-or-test…
Oregon OSHA Issues Temporary Rules Regarding Protection from Wildfire Smoke
Effective August 9, 2021 and running for a period of 180 days, certain Oregon employers must comply with temporary rules imposed by the Oregon Occupational…
Washington Enacts Emergency Wildfire Smoke Rule
As Northwest summers get hotter and drier, state agencies have been forced to adapt to changing circumstances. Following the heatwave in June, both Oregon and…
BOLI Enacts Temporary Rules Implementing Senate Bill 483
Senate Bill 483 was signed into law by Governor Brown on June 15, 2021. Yesterday, the Bureau of Labor and Industries filed Temporary Rules with…
Oregon OSHA Adopts Temporary Rules Protecting Workers From Extreme Heat
Effective July 8, 2021, Oregon OSHA adopted temporary rules addressing the prevention of heat related illness. The rules follow an unprecedented heatwave throughout the State…
Oregon OSHA Issues Temporary Rules Repealing Mask and Distancing Requirements
On June 25, 2021, Governor Brown issued an Executive Order stating Oregon would lift its mask mandates, capacity limits, and social distancing guidelines effective June…
Oregon OSHA Adopted Permanent COVID-19 Workplace Rules May 4, 2021
On May 4, 2021, the Oregon Occupational Health & Safety Administration (OSHA) adopted permanent workplace rules related to COVID-19. The temporary rules OSHA previously adopted…
Oregon OSHA Proposes “Permanent” COVID-19 Rules
Recently, Oregon OSHA formally proposed a “permanent” COVID-19 rule to replace the temporary rule, which is set to expire May 4, 2021. Oregon OSHA’s rule…
Employer Resources for Compliance with Oregon OSHA’s Temporary COVID-19 Workplace Standards
The recently adopted Temporary Rule Addressing COVID-19 Workplace Risks by the Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OR-OSHA) includes a series of requirements for employers…
OR OSHA still has not passed final rules relating to COVID-19
In June 2020 Oregon OSHA announced it would implement temporary workplace rules to address the COVID-19 hazard. Oregon OSHA expected it would have the final…
Oregon OSHA will Adopt Rules Addressing the COVID-19 Emergency
Recently, Oregon OSHA announced it has begun work on temporary rules addressing the COVID-19 emergency. The target date for the rules is September 1st and…
Washington – COVID-19 Incident Reports, Workers’ Comp, Wage and Leave Issues
With the recent news of Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Washington, we want to ensure everyone understands the guidelines for incident reports, workers’ compensation claims, and other…
Federal Court Denies Injunction of OSHA Recordkeeping Rule
OSHA issued a final rule regarding electronic recordkeeping that also included new anti-retaliation records. Read a prior blog post regarding this rule here: http://sbhlegal.com/new-osha-rules-address-post-accident-drug-testing-retaliation-claims-and-electronic-injuryillness-reporting/ A…
New OSHA Rules Address Post-Accident Drug Testing, Retaliation Claims, and Electronic Injury/Illness Reporting
Recently, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) finalized new rules regarding recordkeeping/reporting and discrimination as it relates to drug testing employees following an injury. …
OSHA issues guidance on transgender bathrooms
On June 1st, OSHA issued a new guide for employers regarding restroom access for transgender employees. The guide falls under OSHA’s sanitation standard that requires…
