WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that its Occupational Safety and Health Administration has issued a heat hazard alert to remind employers of their obligation to protect workers against heat illness or injury in outdoor and indoor workplaces.
The department also announced that OSHA will intensify its enforcement where workers are exposed to heat hazards, with increased inspections in high-risk industries like construction and agriculture. These actions will fully implement the agency’s National Emphasis Program on heat, announced in April 2022, to focus enforcement efforts in geographic areas and industries with the most vulnerable workers.
Department of Labor announces hazard alert, steps up enforcement as extreme heat endangers workers across the nation
Federal law requires employers to provide safe, healthy working conditions
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a notice of proposed rulemaking to clarify the personal protective equipment standard for the construction industry.
The current standard does not state clearly that PPE must fit each affected employee properly, which the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's general industry and maritime standards do. The proposed change would clarify that PPE must fit each employee properly to protect them from occupational hazards.
The failure of standard-sized PPE to protect physically smaller construction workers properly, as well as problems with access to properly fitting PPE, have long been safety and health concerns in the construction industry, especially for some women.
PPE must fit properly to provide adequate protection to employees. Improperly fitting PPE may fail to provide any protection to an employee, present additional hazards, or discourage employees from using such equipment in the workplace.
Learn more about personal protective equipment in construction.
Department of Labor announces proposed rule to clarify personal protective equipment standard, ensure safety of construction industry workers
Action seeks to align construction, general industry, maritime standards
Reporting Rule
OSHA issued a final rule that revises requirements for submitting workplace injury and illness information to OSHA. This final rule becomes effective Jan. 1, 2024.
OSHA is amending its regulation to require establishments with 100 or more employees to electronically submit information from their OSHA Forms 300 and 301 to OSHA once a year. Establishments with 20 to 249 employees in certain industries will continue to be required to electronically submit information from their OSHA Form 300A annual summary to OSHA once a year. All establishments with 250 or more employees will also continue to be required to electronically submit information from their Form 300A to OSHA on an annual basis.
Prioritizing Warehouse Safety
A new National Emphasis Program aims to prevent workplace hazards and injuries in warehousing and distribution centers.
Under this three-year emphasis program, OSHA will conduct comprehensive safety inspections focused on hazards related to powered industrial vehicle operations, material handling and storage, walking and working surfaces, means of egress and fire protection. OSHA may expand an inspection's scope when evidence shows that violations may exist in other areas of the establishment.