News

The Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has begun calling attention to interpretive letters it’s publishing in the past year as part of its education push to encourage voluntary compliance. Much like the DOL’s new opinion letters, OSHA wants employers to know exactly what it expects of them.

The flu is surging well beyond typical seasonal levels, and HR leaders can’t rely on outdated policies to protect their workplaces. A clear, current flu policy that is shared with employees helps limit workplace spread, reduce confusion and show employees that health and safety remain priorities.

I am an HR manager at a big nursery with hundreds of greenhouses, and we provide our employees with portable toilets. It was brought to my attention by the cleaner that he found a cut-up soda can and a syringe in one of the potties. I have never encountered any drug use at our nursery, and I am not sure how I can handle this situation.

President Trump signed an executive order changing how marijuana is handled under the federal Controlled Substances Act. The drug has been reclassified to Schedule III, from its previous classification as a Schedule I drug, along with heroin and other drugs with high addiction and abuse potential and little or no established medical uses.

It appeared that a Biden-era OSHA heat-standard regulation was on the verge of final approval, with the final step—review of comments received—imminent. Instead, competing bills in Congress may either block the regulation or provide OSHA with legal cover in the form of specific legislative authority to set heat standards.

Holiday shopping brings more than increased sales for retailers—it also increases the potential for workplace risks and workers’ comp claims. Melissa Burke, head of client experience and risk control for AmTrust Financial Services, offers several tips to help reduce the risks of costly injuries, illnesses and potential losses.

The U.S. Department of Transportation proposes to amend its drug-testing program regulation, 49 CFR Part 40, to add fentanyl (a synthetic opioid) and norfentanyl (a metabolite of fentanyl) to its drug-testing panels.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has once again extended the public comment period for its proposed rule, Heat Injury and Illness Prevention in Outdoor and Indoor Work Settings. An informal public hearing was held this past summer, and the agency has received more than 40,000 comments thus far.

OSHA’s Safe + Sound Week, taking place August 11–17, offers a national platform to recognize progress in workplace safety while providing fresh ideas for building healthier, more resilient organizations.

The U.S. Department of Labor has updated its guidance on OSHA penalty and debt-collection procedures to minimize the burden on small businesses and increase prompt hazard abatement.