California has a strong reputation for cycling. In 2022, the League of American Bicyclists designated the state as the fourth most friendly state for bicycling in the United States. Two California cities – Davis and Berkeley...more
On December 11, 2023, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”) announced that it will be “replacing traditional hard hats used by its employees with more modern safety helmets.”...more
The New York State Court of Appeals recently upheld three decisions in favor of defendants in cases involving alleged violations of Section 240(1) of the New York State Labor Law. Section 240(1) imposes strict liability on...more
On November 3, 2022, an Illinois circuit court judge dismissed a Biometric Information Privacy Act (Privacy Act or BIPA) putative class action against Samsara, Inc., a DashCam developer. DashCam is a safety technology for...more
Welcome to The On-Ramp, the newsletter from Venable's Autonomous and Connected Mobility team. The On-Ramp explores legal and policy developments in the world of autonomous vehicles ("AVs"), smart infrastructure, and emerging...more
Wearing your seatbelt in Florida became a primary offense with The Dori Slosberg and Katie Marchetti Safety Belt Law, effective June 30, 2009. The law requires all drivers, all front-seat passengers, and all passengers under...more
Hospitals in Florida and the rest of the country generally are careful about safety measures, staff-to-patient ratios and infection control. There are specific standards of care they must meet in the communities they serve. ...more
Pennsylvania, CNX Reach $1.48M Settlement on Abandoned Wells - "The order covers 141 conventional wells and five shale gas wells in Allegheny, Washington, Greene and Westmoreland counties." Why this is important: The...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: The FCC has proposed new rules that would require employers to have compliant phones systems for 911 direct dialing....more
Even if you have done everything in your power to maintain your vehicle, drive safely, and protect passengers from harm, it is not always possible to prevent death or serious injury from an unexpected vehicle crash. NEW...more
The first all-female spacewalk was planned for Friday, March 29, 2019. News outlets included the event in their coverage of women’s history month and the strides women had made in male dominated industries. However, the...more
ATTENTION YOUDIG? READERS !!! IT’S ROAD CONSTRUCTION SEASON BULLETIN: Highway construction zones are among the most dangerous places on earth. Today we begin our 3 part “Dear YouDig?” Series to Highlight Highway...more
As you may have seen in the news, an anticipated first all-female astronaut spacewalk had to be cancelled because the International Space Station did not have the appropriate sized space suits for both of the female...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: New state and federal laws and rules require employers to have compliant phones systems for 911 direct dialing and E-911....more
Folks who follow my writing know that of the many groups to which I speak, the AGC National Safety Committee is my favorite. I love the industry and I value the clients and contacts who have become friends, even Bob Emmerich,...more
Our California offices reported that local governments are provided N 95 dust masks to citizens because of the wild fires. Such masks may not actually help all users and the smoke and particulate may not exceed permissible...more
In a decision that had become all but inevitable, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), on December 4, 2017 rescinded its rule that would have required railroads carrying highly hazardous flammable materials, such as...more
Positive Train Control ("PTC") is a system that will automatically apply the train’s brakes in certain situations. PTC systems consist of technologies designed to help detect dangerous situations and automatically intervene...more
Construction firms are developing new safety helmets designed to provide workers with better protection from falls and to curb fatal injuries, according to a report from Bloomberg BNA. According to government researchers,...more
Pending before the United States Supreme Court is a petition for writ of certiorari asking the Court to determine whether an employer may use payments for bona fide meal periods as an offset/credit against compensable work...more
Dress codes—a helpful workplace rule or a trap for the unwary? A recent Forbes article (High Heels and Workplace Dress Codes: Urgent Action Needed, Say U.K. MPs) relates the story of Nicola Thorp, who was sent home from her...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: Companies cannot go to prison, but their executives and managers can when they violate the OSHA laws. And, companies can face stiff fines and other business-disrupting (or ending) collateral consequences...more
On June 28, 2016, Institut de recherche Robert-Sauvé en santé et en sécurité du travail (IRSST) issued a press release announcing the availability of a study on “Efficiency Evaluation of N95 FFRs under Cyclic and Constant...more
Vehicle safety systems are experiencing a period of development unlike any in the history of the industry. While the 20th century focused on passive safety systems, such as crumple zones, seat belts, and airbags, these...more
In a case that could change how wage and hour class and collective actions are litigated, Tyson Foods, Inc. recently filed its opening Supreme Court brief. Tyson seeks reversal of a $5.8 million judgment in favor of meat...more