Although OSHA lacks a federal ergonomics standard, the agency has other tools to take enforcement action against employers whose workers suffer ergonomic-related injuries, and states are continuing to fill the federal vacuum, making it important for employers to stay on top of the issue, legal experts say.
September 16, 2026
OSHA’s National Emphasis Programs (NEP) and similar regional and local programs increase the risk of citations for employers, but at the same time each of these programs includes an agency directive that provides a playbook that can aid employers in preparing for any inspections, Conn Maciel Carey (CMC) attorneys say.
Date:
An OSHA policy interpretation letter from earlier this year on when injuries caused by an item brought from home is a workplace injury underscores key injury reporting principles, including that work needs only to be a causal factor and that if the injury happens at work, employers should assume the injury is recordable, attorneys say.
Date:
A Nevada legislative panel is delaying action on an administrative proposal to make the state’s OSHA penalty amounts match a 2025 change in federal policy that expanded the universe of employers eligible for penalty reductions after two Democratic lawmakers raised concerns about the proposal.
Date:
Mine operators should still be reviewing their safety and health compliance efforts on an annual basis even though the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) was unable to adjust its penalty levels for 2026 due to the government shutdown last fall, legal experts say.
Date:
OSHA is proposing to collect a total of more than $3.5 million in fines from three companies the agency says failed to protect workers during a post-emergency response cleanup after a chemical spill at an industrial facility near Houston, TX, in December.
Date:
The 4th Circuit is upholding a lower court’s dismissal of South Carolina’s challenge to an OSHA rule requiring states to match annual increases to federal OSH Act penalties, finding South Carolina’s arguments seeking to reinstate the litigation “hold no water.”
Date:
An administrative law judge’s (ALJ) recent upholding of OSHA penalties against a lumber company totaling nearly $2.5 million illustrates the need for employers to have written safety procedures, adequate training for employees and a top-down management commitment to safety, attorneys with a focus on OSHA compliance say.
Date:
A Texas-based energy infrastructure company is challenging the constitutionality of the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission (OSHRC), becoming the latest entity seeking to apply a 2024 Supreme Court ruling requiring jury trials to resolve OSHA citations.
Date:
The D.C. Circuit has upheld an OSHA citation against an oil and gas drilling specialty contractor after a fatal 2022 incident, rejecting the company’s arguments that the agency erred in issuing the citation, including claims that the OSH Act General Duty Clause is too vague.
Date: