Safety in the News: July 2019

Employer or Employee: Who's to Blame for OSHA Violations? (Construction Dive)
What if a contractor has trained its employees on safety rules and a few workers simply refuse to follow procedures? Is the employer still responsible?

OSHA Gears Up for Safe + Sound Week (EHS Today)
Safe + Sound Week is back from Aug. 12-18, 2019. The goal of OSHA's annual event is to encourage employers to implement workplace safety initiatives as well as highlight workers' contributions to improving safety.

What Employers Should Know About OSHA's Multi-Employer Citation Policy (Builder Online)
Multi-employer work sites are a frequent occurrence in the construction industry as employees from various companies often occupy the same job site over the duration of a project. This creates risk if workplace hazards are found, as OSHA's ability to cite employers is not limited to workplace conditions that are unsafe for direct employees.

Cal/OSHA Standards Board Adopts New Emergency Regulation to Protect Outdoor Workers from Wildfire Smoke (OH&S)
California's Department of Industrial Relations' Occupational Health & Safety Standards Board adopted an emergency regulation to protect workers from hazards associated with wildfire smoke. The regulation is expected to go into effect in early August.

Why Safety in the Workplace Should be Your Main Priority as a Leader (Thomasnet)
To protect employees from injury and death, implementing comprehensive industrial safety measures is paramount.

Lawmaker Introduces Bill to Create OSHA Heat Standard (Construction Dive)
Rep. Judy Chu, Democratic congresswoman from California, introduced a bill that, if passed, would direct OSHA to create a standard for heat-related injuries and illnesses. Chu bill, H.R. 3668, was introduced July 10 and has been referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.