In the first quarter of 2022 the United States Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has proposed rulemaking on topics ranging from forklifts to healthcare workers COVID-19 exposure to occupational injury and illness recordkeeping.
Here is a closer look at some possible changes that businesses should be aware of:
OSHA announced on March 28, 2022, proposed amendments to federal occupational injury and illness recordkeeping regulations.
In addition to reporting their Annual Summary of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses, the proposed rule would require certain establishments in certain high-hazards industries to electronically submit additional information from their Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses, as well as their Injury and Illness Incident Report.
The proposed rule would:
Establishments with 20 or more employees in certain high-hazard industries would continue to be required to electronically submit information from their OSHA Form 300A annual summary to OSHA annually.
“As part of OSHA's mission to protect workers and mitigate workplace hazards, this rule would improve OSHA's ability to use its enforcement and compliance assistance resources to identify workplaces where workers are at high risk,” said OSHA.
OSHA announced March 22, 2022, that it has reopened the rulemaking record partially and scheduled an informal public hearing related to final standards to protect healthcare and healthcare support service workers from workplace exposure to the COVID-19 virus.
OSHA issued on June 21, 2021, an emergency temporary standard to protect workers in healthcare settings from occupational exposure to COVID-19. The Emergency Temporary Standard – which also served as a proposed rule – focused on healthcare workers most likely to have contact with people infected with the virus.
In this new rulemaking window, OSHA is now considering the following topics:
“As OSHA works towards a permanent regulatory solution, employers must continue to comply with their obligations under the General Duty Clause, Personal Protective Equipment and Respiratory Protection Standards, as well as other applicable OSHA standards to protect their employees against the hazard of COVID-19 in the workplace,” said OSHA.
OSHA announced on Feb. 15, 2022, a proposed rule to update the design and construction requirements for powered industrial trucks (commonly called forklifts or lift trucks) standards for general industry and construction.
The proposed rule would apply to:
OSHA said the rule was aimed at improving “worker safety and health by ensuring the agency’s general industry and construction industry rules reflect current industry practice and state-of-the-art technology.”
Under the proposed rule, OSHA will update its general industry and construction standards for powered industrial trucks by adding references to the latest design and construction requirements published by the American National Standards Institute in conjunction with the Industrial Truck Standards Development Foundation.
Comments can be submitted online (Docket No. OSHA-2020-00089) by May 17, 2022, at the Federal eRulemaking Portal.
Dean & Draper is a Trusted Choice insurance agency representing numerous insurance companies. For over 40 years we have offered a trusted freedom of choice to our clients. Contact Us.
The recommendation(s), advice and contents of this material are provided for informational purposes only and do not purport to address every possible legal obligation, hazard, code violation, loss potential or exception to good practice. Dean & Draper Insurance Agency specifically disclaims any warranty or representation that acceptance of any recommendations or advice contained herein will make any premises, property or operation safe or in compliance with any law or regulation. Under no circumstances should this material or your acceptance of any recommendations or advice contained herein be construed as establishing the existence or availability of any insurance coverage with Dean & Draper Insurance Agency. By providing this information to you, Dean & Draper Insurance Agency does not assume (and specifically disclaims) any duty, undertaking or responsibility to you. The decision to accept or implement any recommendation(s) or advice contained in this material must be made by you.
©2022 Dean & Draper Insurance Agency All Rights Reserved.