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OSHA that is. The agency plans to begin work on a heat stress standard this year. But a final rule is years away. Agency staff awaits recommendations from the National Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety and Health about what to include in the standard. While OSHA doesn’t really need this, these recommendations give OSHA firmer ground to stand on.
OSHA’s also working on a measure to prevent violence against healthcare workers and an infectious disease standard.
COVID is still a thing. OSHA's COVID rule is pending at the White House for final review. The next step is a final rule! OSHA may require all hospital workers to wear N95 respirators when a hospital admits a certain number of COVID patients.
Constructing the right rit. A proposed OSHA PPE fit for construction rule is pending at the White House. The rule will require PPE provided by (construction) employers for use in construction jobs to fit the wearer. General industry regs say PPE must fit the worker, but no similar text in the Construction regs.
Are OSHA safety regs unconstitutional? The Federal Court of Appeals in Ohio will hear a case where Allstates Refractory Services says OSHA’s safety regulations are unconstitutional because Congress, back in 1970, did not give OSHA and the Labor Department clear authority to build up safety standards. (more here and here from the conservative view.)
This would seem outrageous, but some legal minds have been writing about the limits of administrative law, and government lawyers believe the case could get attention. Whoever loses will likely ask the Supreme Court to review this case.
We're taking action. The National Employment Law Project, a DC-based legal foundation, filed an amici curiae brief with ISEA and other health and safety groups. Here's what we said.
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