A petition to California OSHA’s (Cal/OSHA) standards board seeking a ban on artificial stone slabs containing more than 1 percent crystalline silica to prevent more cases of the deadly lung disease silicosis is sparking new debate over whether a ban is appropriate or if state officials should substantially ramp up enforcement of worker-safety standards.

A petition to California OSHA’s (Cal/OSHA) standards board seeking a ban on artificial stone slabs containing more than 1 percent crystalline silica to prevent more cases of the deadly lung disease silicosis is sparking new debate over whether a ban is appropriate or if state officials should substantially ramp up enforcement of worker-safety standards.

Two recent press releases highlight the Trump OSHA’s focus on publicizing preventable harms to workers, noting citations and fines to companies that repeatedly, and in one case willfully, failed to protect workers, even as some observers expect such releases, viewed by critics as “regulation by shaming,” to become even less common.

A federal district court judge is ordering the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to produce within 10 days an administrative record explaining its decision earlier this year to essentially shut down a key federal workplace-safety agency, saying HHS has to date produced nothing that explains its actions.

The Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) has amended regulations governing its operations, organization and management in order to improve their function, better reflect CSB’s mission and clarify procedures involving public meetings, according to a recent Federal Register notice.

A Louisiana-based oil and gas drilling specialty contractor is asking the D.C. Circuit to vacate an OSHA citation stemming from a 2022 accident where a pipe ruptured at a gas well in South Texas, arguing that an accident, by itself, is not enough to establish a violation of the General Duty Clause.

A Louisiana-based oil and gas drilling specialty contractor is asking the D.C. Circuit to vacate an OSHA citation stemming from a 2022 accident where a pipe ruptured at a gas well in South Texas, arguing that an accident, by itself, is not enough to establish a violation of the General Duty Clause.

A three-judge panel of the 6th Circuit during Dec. 11 oral argument grappled with how to resolve a paper company’s challenge to OSHA enforcement citations where there are apparent deficiencies with the administrative law judge (ALJ) decision on appeal but potential limits on how the court can address them.

A three-judge panel of the 6th Circuit during Dec. 11 oral argument grappled with how to resolve a paper company’s challenge to OSHA enforcement citations where there are apparent deficiencies with the administrative law judge (ALJ) decision on appeal but potential limits on how the court can address them.

OSHA is touting its use of “letters of interpretation” over the past year as a way “to ensure the consistent and transparent application of federal workplace safety and health standards,” saying the “letters provide clear explanations that support compliance and training requirements, helping to keep America’s workers safe and healthy.”