OSHA Webinar

Update about the Chemical Safety Board [Webinar Recording]

Theresa Green Leave a comment

On March 16, 2021, Eric J. Conn, Micah Smith and Beeta B. Lashkari presented a webinar regarding “Update about the Chemical Safety Board.”

For a small agency, a lot happened at the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (the CSB) last year – and not all related to the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, the CSB promulgated an accidental release reporting rule, requiring employers to report certain chemical incidents to the CSB. Although the rule went into effect last Spring, the CSB set a 1-year enforcement “grace period” to allow time for the regulated community to become familiar with the rule, and for the Agency to develop guidance about the new rule. With the grace period ending later this month, on March 23, 2021, it is critical for employers to understand their new compliance obligations.

In addition, with expired terms, early departures, and the swearing in of a new Chairperson (but no other Board members), the CSB’s Board became a “quorum of one” for the first time, begging questions about its authority to vote on mission-critical work product, such as investigation reports, and its ability to conduct the agency’s business. Although Pres. Biden will likely nominate new Board Members, the Senate confirmation process can be a slog, meaning the CSB may maintain a quorum of one for an extended period.

Participants in this webinar learned about: Continue reading →

What Employers Need to Know About COVID-19 Vaccines [Webinar Recording]

Theresa Green Leave a comment

On February 11th, Kara M. Maciel, Fern Fleischer-Daves, and Lindsay A. DiSalvo presented a webinar regarding What Employers Need to Know About COVID-19 Vaccines.

In December 2020, two COVID-19 vaccines received emergency use authorization from the US government and several more vaccines may be approved in the coming months. In the initial phases, front-line health care workers, nursing home residents, persons over 75 years of age, and others with underlying health conditions were given first priority. Many employers want to have their “essential workers” or all of their workers vaccinated as soon as possible.

During this webinar, Conn Maciel Carey’s OSHA and Labor & Employment attorneys discussed these important questions:

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OSHA’s 2020 in Review and 2021 Forecast [Webinar Recording]

Theresa Green Leave a comment

On January 14, 2020, the Partners in Conn Maciel Carey’s national OSHA • Workplace Safety Practice Group presented a webinar regarding Annual OSHA Update: 2020 In-Review and 2021 Forecast.

The ball has dropped, the confetti has been swept out of Times Square, and 2020 is in the books. It’s time to look back and take stock of what we learned from and about OSHA over the past year. More importantly, it is time to look ahead and assess what to expect from OSHA during the new year, and the start of a new Presidential term (either the 2nd Term of President Trump or new Administration under former Vice President Joe Biden). In this webinar, the Chair of Conn Maciel Carey’s national OSHA Practice Group will review OSHA enforcement, rulemaking, and leadership developments from 2020, and will discuss the top OSHA issues employers should monitor and prepare for in the New Year.

Participants in this webinar learned the following: Continue reading →

[Webinar Recording] Lessons Learned from the Roll-out of Virginia OSHA’s New COVID-19 Standard

Theresa Green Leave a comment

On December 7, 2020, Eric J. Conn (Chair of Conn Maciel Carey’s national OSHA Practice), Susan Wilcox (a CIH and CSP with Safety Resource Associates in Virginia), and special guest Jennifer Rose (VOSH Cooperative Programs Director with the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry) presented a webinar regarding Lessons Learned from the Roll-out of Virginia OSHA’s New COVID-19 Standard.

Earlier this Summer, Virginia became the first state in the nation to promulgate a mandatory safety regulation designed to reduce COVID-19 infections in the workplace, when Virginia’s Governor Ralph Northam announced the commonwealth’s adoption of an Emergency Temporary Standard (“ETS”). The COVID-19 ETS, which was drafted by Virginia’s Department of Labor and Industry, requires Virginia employers to:

  • Assess potential exposures to COVID-19 in the workplace
  • Categorize the level of risk exposure from Low to Very High (each with different mitigation requirements)
  • Develop and implement a written infection control plan
  • Provide employee training on the virus and control measures in the workplace
  • Make certain notifications about infected employees to co-workers, to VOSH, and to the VA Dept. of Health

VOSH’s COVID-19 ETS went to effect on July 27th, with major elements of the rule kicking in in August and September. Now, several months into implementation of the COVID-19-specific regulation, we check on the status of the rule, challenges employers have faced complying with it, and enforcement issues. Participants in this webinar will learn: Continue reading →

[Webinar] Lessons Learned from the Roll-out of Virginia OSHA’s New COVID-19 Standard

Theresa Green Leave a comment

On Monday, December 7th at 1 PM ET, join Eric J. Conn (Chair of Conn Maciel Carey’s national OSHA Practice), Susan Wilcox (a CIH and CSP with Safety Resource Associates in Virginia), and special guest Jennifer Rose (VOSH Cooperative Programs Director with the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry) for a webinar regarding Lessons Learned from the Roll-out of Virginia OSHA’s New COVID-19 Standard.

Earlier this Summer, Virginia became the first state in the nation to promulgate a mandatory safety regulation designed to reduce COVID-19 infections in the workplace, when Virginia’s Governor Ralph Northam announced the commonwealth’s adoption of an Emergency Temporary Standard (“ETS”). The COVID-19 ETS, which was drafted by Virginia’s Department of Labor and Industry, requires Virginia employers to:
  • Assess potential exposures to COVID-19 in the workplace
  • Categorize the level of risk of exposure from Low to Very High (each with different mitigation requirements)
  • Develop and implement a written infection control plan
  • Provide employee training on the virus and control measures in the workplace
  • Make certain notifications about infected employees to co-workers, to VOSH, and to the VA Dept. of Health
VOSH’s COVID-19 ETS went to effect on July 27th, with major elements of the rule kicking in in August and September. Now, several months into implementation of the COVID-19-specific regulation, we check on the status of the rule, challenges employers have faced complying with it, and enforcement issues. Participants in this webinar will learn:

Continue reading →

[Webinar] Process Safety Update: The Latest with OSHA PSM & EPA RMP

Theresa Green Leave a comment

On Tuesday, November 17th at 1 PM Eastern, join Eric J. Conn, Micah Smith and Beeta Lashkari for a complimentary webinar: Process Safety Update: The Latest with OSHA PSM & EPA RMP.

Following the 2013 West Fertilizer explosion, then-President Obama issued Exec. Orders directing OSHA, EPA and other agencies to “modernize” the chemical process safety regulatory landscape. OSHA and EPA took sweeping actions, from enforcement initiatives (like a new PSM National Emphasis Program) to rulemakings and interpretation letters.

Then President Trump took office with a de-regulatory agenda.  But rather than unwavering deregulation, Trump Admin. initiatives in this area have been splintered, with some deregulatory work proceeding (e.g., rollback of RMP amendments), others coming to a complete halt (e.g., PSM reform rulemaking), and still others moving forward like business as usual (e.g., the Chem/REF PSM NEP inspections and the CSB’s new accidental release reporting rule).  And now, with the Presidential Election behind us (sort of), and a new Biden Administration looming, we could see another significant shake-up of the regulatory landscape.

This webinar reviews the status and likely future of OSHA’s PSM Standard and EPA’s RMP Rule, CSB developments, and other process safety issues, such as the recent 10th Cir. Decision on PSM application to interconnected and co-located vessels.

Click here to register for the November 17th webinar. Continue reading →

Announcing Conn Maciel Carey’s 2019 OSHA Webinar Series

Eric J. Conn Leave a comment

We are now two years into the Trump Administration, and we have seen a mixed bag of changes in the OSHA enforcement and regulatory landscape. We have watched some late Obama-era OSHA rules get repealed by the Congressional Review Act or delayed and amended through deregulatory rulemaking.  We have seen some efforts to boost up the VPP Program and other cooperative programs—the sorts of policy shifts at OSHA many expect in a transition to a republican administration. However, we have also been surprised by OSHA increasing the number of inspections, setting records for the number of $100K+ enforcement actions, and continuing to issue hard hitting press releases.  And most surprising of all, OSHA still does not have a Senate-approved Assistant Secretary—the longest ever wait for a permanent OSHA Administrator.

As we move into the out years of Pres. Trump’s first term, we expect more reshuffling of OSHA’s enforcement priorities and policies, and more surprises, so it is critical to stay abreast of OSHA developments. This complimentary 2019 OSHA Webinar Series, presented by the OSHA-specialist attorneys in Conn Maciel Carey’s national OSHA Practice Group, is designed to give employers insight into changes and developments at OSHA during this unpredictable time.

To register for an individual webinar, click the registration link in the program descriptions below. To register for the entire 2019 Series, click here to send an email request, and we will get you registered. If you missed any of our OSHA programs, here is a link to our webinar archive.

2019 OSHA Webinar Series – Program Schedule
OSHA Year in Review & 2019 Forecast

Tuesday, January 15th
Tips to Survive an OSHA Inspection

Tuesday, July 23rd
Updates on OSHA’s E-Recordkeeping and Serious Injury Reporting Rules

Tuesday, February 12th
Joint- and Multi-Employers, Contractors and Temps

Tuesday, August 13th
OSHA’s New Site-Specific
Targeting Enforcement Program

Tuesday, March 19th
OSHA’s Electrical Safety Standards – Top 5 Risks and Mistakes

Tuesday, September 24th
Responding to 11(c) Retaliation Claims & Employee Safety Complaints

Tuesday, April 16th
What You Need to Know About OSHA’s Health Exposure Standards

Tuesday, October 22nd
New Cal/OSHA Enforcement Issues

Tuesday, May 28th
 OSHA PSM and EPA RMP Update

Tuesday, November 19th
The Fate of Numerous Midnight Obama-Era OSHA Rules

Tuesday, June 18th
Workplace Violence & Harassment – OSHA & Employment Law Issues

Tuesday, December 17th
See below for descriptions of the webinars and registration links Continue reading →

Unlock The Mysteries of OSHA’s Lockout/Tagout Standard [Webinar Recording]

Eric J. Conn 2 Comments

On February 20, 2018, Eric J. Conn and Aaron R. Gelb of the national OSHA Practice Group at Conn Maciel Carey presented a webinar: “Unlock The Mysteries of OSHA’s Lockout/Tagout Standard.”

OSHA’s Lockout/Tagout (Energy Control) Standard is always one of OSHA’s most frequently cited standards, and now, with the “Amputations National Emphasis Program” raging on into 2018, as well as LOTO violations continuing to be considered “high emphasis hazards” to qualify employers into the dreaded Severe Violator Enforcement Program, it is critical for employers to get Lockout/Tagout right.  While LOTO continues to be an important standard, it also continues to be one of the least understood standards.  This webinar will highlight the Top 10 most misunderstand and frequently cited aspects of the LOTO rule, and forecast some potential changes to the rule and OSHA’s enforcement of it.

During this webinar, participants learned: Continue reading →

Announcing Conn Maciel Carey’s 2018 OSHA Webinar Series

Eric J. Conn 1 Comment

The Trump Administration has taken the reins at OSHA, and the first year of the new OSHA’s enforcement and regulatory (or de-regulatory) agenda is in the books.  We have already seen significant changes in the way OSHA does business and the tools available to the Agency in its toolkit.  Now, as the new Administration finishes filling out the OSHA leadership team with its own appointees, we are sure to see shifting of enforcement priorities, budgets and policies, and an amplified effort to repeal or re-interpret controversial Obama-era OSHA rules and policies.  Accordingly, it is critical to stay abreast of OSHA developments.

Conn Maciel Carey’s complimentary 2018 OSHA Webinar Series, presented by the firm’s national OSHA Practice Group, is designed to give employers insight into changes and developments at OSHA during this period of flux.

To register for an individual webinar, click the link below the program description.  To register for the entire 2018 series, click here to send us an email request, and we will register you.  If you missed any programs from prior years, here is a link to an archive of recordings of those webinars.

OSHA’s 2017 in Review & 2018 Forecast

Tuesday, January 16th
New Cal/OSHA Enforcement Issues

Tuesday, July 10th
Unlock the Mysteries of OSHA’s Lockout/Tagout Standard

Tuesday, February 20th
Future of OSHA’s Policy
of Public Shaming

Tuesday, August 21st
OSHA’s New Leadership Team

Tuesday, March 20th
Walking/Working Surfaces Update

Tuesday, September 18th
OSHA’s New Silica & Beryllium Rules

Tuesday, April 17th
Repeat, Willful & Egregious CiTations

Tuesday, October 16th
OSHA’s New E-Recordkeeping
and Anti-Retaliation Rule

Tuesday, May 5th
 Process Safety Update:
OSHA PSM and EPA RMP

Tuesday, November 13th
Joint- and Multi-Employers,
Contractors and Temps

Tuesday, June 5th
OSHA and the ADA: How Two
Labor Laws Align and Diverge

Tuesday, December 4th
See below for descriptions of the webinars and registration links

Continue reading →

Announcing Conn Maciel Carey’s Complimentary 2017 OSHA Webinar Series

Eric J. Conn Leave a comment

2017-webinar-series-logo

As the Obama Administration turns out the lights and hands over the keys to the Trump team, OSHA’s enforcement and regulatory landscape is sure to change in significant ways, from shifting enforcement priorities, budgets and policies, to efforts to repeal or re-interpret controversial Obama Era regulations.  As a Washington outsider, what OSHA will look like under Pres. Trump is a greater mystery than perhaps under any other incoming President in OSHA’s history.  Accordingly, it is more important now than ever before to pay attention to OSHA developments.

Conn Maciel Carey’s complimentary 2017 OSHA Webinar Series, put on by attorneys in the firm’s national OSHA Practice Group, is designed to give you insight into the changes and developments at OSHA during this period of flux and unpredictability. 

To register for an individual webinar, click on the link below the program description. To register for the entire 2017 series, click here to send us an email request, and we will register you.  If you missed any of our programs from the 2015 or 2016 OSHA Webinar Series, here is a link to an archive of recordings of those webinars.

OSHA’s 2016 In Review and
Top 5 OSHA Issues in 2017

Wednesday, January 25th

Joint & Multi-Employers, Contractors and Temps

Tuesday, July 11th

New Slips, Trips
and Falls Rule

Thursday, February 8th

FAR/DOL Contractor “Blacklisting” Rule

Tuesday, August 15th

Standards Improvement Project: Proposed Changes to LOTO

Tuesday, March 28th

Meet OSHA’s New
Leadership Team

Tuesday, September 12th

New Cal/OSHA
Enforcement Issues

Tuesday, April 11th

Addressing Employee
Complaints

Tuesday, October 17th

OSHA’s New E-Recordkeeping
& Anti-Retaliation Rule

Wednesday, May 16th

OSHA’s Fatality &
Injury Reporting

Tuesday, November 14th

Interpretations and Variances: Trump Era Regulatory Strategy

Tuesday, June 6th

OSHA PSM and
EPA RMP Update

Tuesday, December 12th
See below for descriptions of the
webinars and registration links

Continue reading →

Get the Record Straight: OSHA’s New Injury Recordkeeping E-Submission Rule [Webinar Recording]

Eric J. Conn Leave a comment

On June 7, 2016, Eric J. Conn and Amanda Strainis-Walker of Conn Maciel Carey’s national OSHA Practice presented a webinar regarding OSHA’s New Injury Recordkeeping Data Electronic Submission Rule as part of the Firm’s 2016 OSHA Webinar Series.

 As the clock winds down on the Obama Administration, OSHA has been rushing out a series of proposed amendments to its Injury & Illness Recordkeeping regulations (29 C.F.R. Part 1904).  Among them is a new final rule to “Improve Tracking of Workplace Injuries and Illnesses,” which will require hundreds of thousands of employers to electronically submit their injury and illness logs (and in many instances, their detailed incident reports also) each year.  More importantly, for no apparent safety reason, OSHA intends to publish employers’ injury data and incident reports online.

Another rule working its way through the rulemaking process: “Continuing Duty to Maintain Up-to-Date and Accurate Injury & Illness Records,” would impose a continuing duty on employers to update and maintain

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“Whistleblower Investigations – OSHA’s 11(c), Title VII, and other Statutes” [Webinar Recording]

Eric J. Conn Leave a comment

On Wednesday, April 19, 2016, Kara M. Maciel and Jordan B. Schwartz delivered a webinar regarding OSHA Whistleblower Investigations as part of the Firm’s 2016 OSHA Webinar Series.

A host of federal and state laws include provisions prohibiting employers from retaliating against whistleblowers who engage in activities protected by the statute.  The Occupational Safety and Health Act, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, and several other laws that regulate the relationship between employers and employees, contain such whistleblower protections.  Pursuant to these protections, the laws also provide a mechanism through which employees can report incidents of retaliation to the government to investigate and potentially bring an enforcement action against the employer.  With the number of whistleblower claims continuing to rise in 2015, it is imperative for employers to understand what types of actions could be the impetus for a whistleblower investigation and the potential consequences.

Participants in the webinar learned the following: Continue reading →

Announcing Conn Maciel Carey’s 2016 OSHA Webinar Series

Eric J. Conn Leave a comment

2016 Webinar Series Logo

As we enter the home stretch of the Obama Administration’s control of OSHA, we have seen OSHA increase enforcement to levels never seen before, from increased inspections and citations to dramatically higher penalties, and from more criminal referrals to a heavy dose of public shaming. Accordingly, it is more important now than ever before to be prepared.

Conn Maciel Carey’s complimentary 2016 OSHA Webinar Series, put on by attorneys in the firm’s national OSHA Practice Group, is designed to give you the tools to avoid becoming an OSHA-enforcement poster child. 

To register for any of the individual webinars in the series, click on the links below the program descriptions. To register for the entire 2016 series, please send an email to info@connmaciel.com, and we will assist. If you missed some of the programs in the 2015 OSHA Webinar Series, here’s a link to an archive of recordings of those webinars.

Top 5 OSHA Issues in 2016

Thursday, January 21st

Key Cal/OSHA Issues

Thursday, July 21st
OSHA’s Fatality & Injury
Reporting Rule

Thursday, February 11th
Multi- and Joint-Employers,
Contractors and Temps

Tuesday, August 16th
OSHA PSM and EPA RMP Update

Wednesday, March 16th
Contest and Settle OSHA Citations

Wednesday, September 7th
 Whistleblower Investigations

Tuesday, April 19th
OSHA Impact of the Election

Tuesday, October 25th
GHS HazCom Standard Roll-out

Wednesday, May 11th

OSHA Issues in Acquisitions

Tuesday, November 8th
Proposed Injury & Illness
Recordkeeping Rules

Tuesday, June 7th
Bathroom Issues under OSHA, Employment law and the ADA

Tuesday, December 13th
See below for descriptions of the
webinars and registration links

Continue reading →

OSHA’s Severe Violator Enforcement Program: Who, What, When and How to Avoid It [Webinar Recording]

Eric J. Conn Leave a comment

On Tuesday, October 20th, Eric J. Conn and Lindsay A. Smith delivered a webinar regarding “OSHA’s Severe Violator Enforcement Program (SVEP): Who, What, When and How to Avoid It.“

OSHA’s Severe Violator Enforcement Program (SVEP) is an enforcement program intended by OSHA to direct its enforcement resources at employers whom OSHA believes are “indifferent to their OSH Act obligations.”  Employers who “qualify” for SVEP by being accused of committing Willful or Repeat violations in certain categories face a heavy dose of public shaming, but more importantly, SVEP Cover Slidewill receive a heavy dose of OSHA inspections at the same and related facilities throughout the organization.  The SVEP also includes a harsh and unrealistic “exit criteria,” so once you check in, you may never leave.  To make matters worse, OSHA qualifies employers into SVEP just based on allegations, not proven violations.

The webinar explained what SVEP is, reviewed how employers qualify, described the types of companies that are being ensnared and in what circumstances, and provided recommendations for how to avoid SVEP and how to get removed if you do qualify.

Topics included:

  • Background about the Severe Violator Enforcement Program
  • Qualifying criteria and timing issues
  • Consequences of qualifying for SVEP
  • Data and trends about SVEP and SVEP employers
  • Best practices to avoid or get out of SVEP

Here is a link to a recording of the webinar, which includes the full audio with slides.

Plan to join us for the remaining webinars in Conn Maciel Carey’s 2015 OSHA Webinar Series, and check out our archives for recordings of the earlier webinars done as part of the series.

2015 OSHA Webinar Series – Archive of Recordings

Eric J. Conn Leave a comment
Webinar Series 1
Today’s OSHA has increased enforcement to levels never seen before, from increased inspections and citations to dramatically higher penalties, from more criminal referrals to a heavy dose of public shaming.  It is more important than ever to be prepared. This complimentary webinar series has been designed to give employers the tools they need to avoid becoming an OSHA-enforcement poster child.
We have recorded and will continued to record each of the webinars, and as we move through the year and conduct these webinars, we are pleased to provide links below to the recordings.  There are also links below to the registration pages for the remaining webinars in the series.  Check out the completed webinars and plan to join us for all or some of the rest of the series.

Continue reading →