OSHA Issues and Update:Top 10 Things Everyone Should

Know About OSHA in 2015

Presented by:Thomas Benjamin “Ben” Huggett

January 2015

www.osha.gov

Thomas Benjamin HuggettLittler Mendelson, P.C.

1601 Cherry StreetPhiladelphia, PA 19102tbhuggett@littler.com

(267) 402-3035

Presented by: Official Resources and Text

1. Injury and Illness Reporting and Recordkeeping

• Must directly report to OSHA– Within 8 hours

• All work-related fatalities– Within 24 hours

• All work-related inpatient hospitalizations of one or more employees• All work-related amputations• All work-related losses of an eye

• Employers must record work related injuries and illnesses that meet a specified threshold criteria.– Basic First Aid cases are not recordable

• Posting Form 300A– Signature

• Safety Incentive Programs

2. Inspections

• OSHA does not have the right to conduct random inspections!

• OSHA is being aggressive, but they must have Probable Cause to conduct an inspection.

• Complaint• Referral• Fatality/Catastrophe• Neutral Program

– National Emphasis Program– Local Emphasis Program

3. Interviews & Walkarounds

• Interviewees have rights– Hourly employees– Management employees

– Audio or Video taping is not mandatory– Written statements are not required

• Representation During Walkaround Inspection

4. Top 10 OSHA Citations

https://www.osha.gov/Top_Ten_Standards.html

5. Global Harmonization System

• It’s not that scary.Effective Completion Date Requirement(s) Who

December 1, 2013 Train employees on the new label elements and SDS format. Employers

June 1, 2015*

December 1, 2015

Comply with all modified provisions of this final rule, except:

Distributors may ship products labeled by manufacturers under the old system until December 1, 2015.

Chemical manufacturers, importers, distributors and employers

June 1, 2016

Update alternative workplace labeling and hazard communication program as necessary, and provide additional employee training for newly identified physical or health hazards.

Employers

Transition Period Comply with either 29 CFR 1910.1200 (this final standard), or the current standard, or both.

All chemical manufacturers, importers, distributors and employers

6. Asbestos

• 1910.1001(j)(3)(i)Building and facility owners shall determine the presence, location, and quantity of ACM and/or PACM at the work site. Employers and building and facility owners shall exercise due diligence in complying with these requirements to inform employers and employees about the presence and location of ACM and PACM.

7. Self Imposed Obligations and the General Duty Clause

• Section 5(a)(1) of the OSH Act requires that “[e]ach employer...furnish to each of his employees employment and a place of employment which are free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm...”

• Company safety programs can establish additional liabilities if not carefully considered

8. Multi-Employer Worksite Liability

• Multi-Employer Worksites– Step One. The first step is to determine whether the

employer is a creating, exposing, correcting, or controlling employer.

– Step Two. If the employer falls into one of these categories, Step Two is to determine if the employer’s actions were sufficient to meet its obligations.

9. Self-Audit Protections & Responses

• OSHA will refrain from routinely requesting reports of voluntary self-audits at the initiation of an enforcement inspection

• OSHA will refrain from issuing a citation for a violative condition that an employer has discovered through a voluntary self-audit if employer has corrected condition before the inspection and has taken steps to prevent recurrence

• Privileges may protect audits

10. Whistleblower Complaints

http://www.whistleblowers.gov/whistleblower/wb_data_FY05‐13.pdf

Questions?