Many construction contracts, especially on private projects, contain alternative dispute resolution provisions. These provisions often incorporate the Construction Industry Rules and Mediation Procedures of the American...more
OSHA has released its “Top Ten” list of the most cited safety violations of last year. The largest number of violations were observed in the Construction Industry. The Top Ten include...more
OSHA has launched a three-year National Emphasis Program targeting warehouses and distribution centers. Beginning this fiscal year this Program will extend through the middle of 2026. National Emphasis Programs are temporary...more
On April 8, 2022, federal OSHA began a new National Emphasis Program (NEP) on indoor and outdoor heat exposure. This NEP will last for three (3) years. North Carolina, a “Plan State” with its own OSHA regulations, has 60...more
Newly released data from the North Carolina Department of Labor confirms that COVID-19 was the leading cause of work-related fatalities in 2021. Overall, COVID-19 was found by the Department’s Occupational Safety and Health...more
The Commissioner of the North Carolina Department of Labor announced on November 10, 2021, that his department will not adopt or enforce the new OSHA Emergency Temporary Standard for COVID-19 protection and prevention issued...more
11/15/2021
/ Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Department of Labor (DOL) ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employer Responsibilities ,
Employment Policies ,
Human Resources Professionals ,
Masks ,
North Carolina ,
OSHA ,
Paid Time Off (PTO) ,
State and Local Government ,
Vaccinations ,
Virus Testing ,
Workplace Safety
The Biden administration has announced an “all-of-government effort to protect workers, children, seniors, and at-risk communities from extreme heat.” In response, the Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health...more
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has released a new COVID-19 alert specific to the construction industry. The stated purpose of the alert is to provide “tips” to contractors,...more
The recently enacted Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) seeks to mitigate the economic impact of COVID-19. It seeks to expand on prior legislation. It provides greater assistance to individuals,...more
OSHA requires covered employers to record work-related injuries and illnesses in an annual OSHA 300 log. The log must be kept up-to-date and available for employees to review. At the end of each year, the employer is...more
The COVID-19 pandemic is creating economic disruption across the state. “Shelter in place” orders issued from the Governor’s Office, as well as those from various cities and counties, have closed non-essential businesses such...more
Most COVID-19 insurance-related questions have been focused on Workers’ Compensation and business interruption policies. However, problems with coronavirus-related deaths on cruise ships and in long-term care facilities,...more
The construction industry continues to be the most hazardous industry in the State of North Carolina according to the North Carolina Department of Labor. While 2018 had been the deadliest year for the state’s construction...more
The coronavirus, first identified in China, was declared a global health emergency by the World Health Organization on January 30, 2020. Borders are being closed to travelers, airline flights suspended, and cruise passengers...more
2018 was the deadliest year for North Carolina construction workers in more than five years. For fiscal year 2018, the North Carolina Department of Labor reported 49 work-related fatalities. Of these, 49% (24) were...more
Workers who are exposed to respirable crystalline silica (breathable silica dust) are at an increased risk for developing lung cancer, silicosis, incurable lung disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Crystalline...more
To protect contractors and subcontractors working on North Carolina construction projects, state law prohibits the enforcement of any agreement subjecting the parties exclusively to the laws of another state or making the...more
Ever been tempted to binge watch episodes of Chip and Joanna Gaines’ “Fixer Upper”, HGTV’s popular home improvement show? Of course you have. Apparently, so have agents of the Environmental Protection Agency....more
The construction industry continues to be the most hazardous industry in our state according to statistics recently released by the North Carolina Department of Labor. Forty percent of all OSHA-reported fatalities involved...more
IRS Revokes Hospital's Exemption Under Section 501(c)(3) for Failure to Comply with Community Health Needs Assessment Requirements -
On August 4, 2017, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) released its first revocation of a...more
The Citation of Immediate Jeopardy Deficiencies Against Nursing Facilities: Unforeseen Consequences -
There are no words more feared by a skilled nursing facility Administrator during an annual recertification survey or...more
10/24/2017
/ Criminal Background Checks ,
Drug Testing ,
Employee Benefits ,
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) ,
Long Term Care Facilities ,
Long-Term Care ,
OSHA ,
Ransomware ,
Salary/Wage History ,
Skilled Nursing Facility ,
Year-End Planning
Many employers utilize incentive programs to reward employees for compliance with company safety policies. Many of these programs utilize a system of rewards based upon the number of consecutive days a facility has been...more
At the end of last year, OSHA began enforcing new regulatory rules expanding the requirements for employers’ reporting and submitting workplace injury and illness records. These new reporting requirements also contain new...more
Now is the time employers must post a summary of work-related injuries and illnesses that occurred in 2016. The summary must be posted from February 1 through April 30. Failure to compile and post the summary is a violation...more
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has released new guidelines emphasizing the requirement employers treat temporary workers the same as existing employees with respect to workplace safety. These...more