The cannabis industry’s rapid expansion presents significant workplace safety challenges that operators must address proactively....more
Employers should be aware of two separate developments in the workplace safety space that occurred last week – and prepare for some anticipated changes. On January 14, the Department of Health and Human Services announced...more
Under OSHA’s General Duty Clause, employers must provide a workplace free from recognized hazards likely to cause serious injury or death. OSHA regulations require PPE and respiratory protection where necessitated by the...more
Employers with sophisticated safety programs implement overarching Safety and Health Management Systems (“SHMS”, also called Injury and Illness Prevention Plans and Accident Prevention Plans) to ensure that they properly...more
PA NIOSH Employees Uncertain About Their Future- The United States Supreme Court handed the Trump Administration a victory, allowing the President to conduct mass firings at federal agencies. Now, Pittsburgh-area employees...more
On July 8, 2025, the Supreme Court of the United States granted the Trump administration’s request to stay a lower-court judge’s order blocking President Donald Trump’s plan to reduce and restructure the federal workforce,...more
The hearing on the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) proposed Heat Injury and Illness Prevention in Outdoor and Indoor Work Settings Standard began on June 16, 2025. The hearing is the third step in what...more
On Thursday, June 5, David Keeling, President Trump’s nominee to serve as Assistant Secretary of Labor (OSHA), appeared before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (the “HELP Committee”). After...more
Workplace safety initiatives continue to evolve amid the shifting political landscape and regulatory priorities. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) remains a central player in ensuring worker protection,...more
The California Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board (OSHSB) is considering the formation of a subcommittee to tackle challenges arising from the dismantling of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and...more
On April 2, 2025, most of the leadership and research scientists at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) were terminated from employment. The termination resulted in a reduction of at least...more
Last week, the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that it will undergo a major restructuring and plans to eliminate 10,000 employees on top of 10,000 HHS employees who have already departed (20,000...more
There have been recent growing concerns regarding the inhalation of crystalline silica dust in the California stone countertop industry, with attempts by the California State Legislature to enact regulations improving the...more
In light of the ongoing and devastating fires in Los Angeles County, Cal/OSHA released new guidance to ensure the safety and health of workers involved in fire damage cleanup. Of note, Cal/OSHA’s standards may apply to some...more
On December 12, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued several final significant new use rules (SNUR) for certain chemical substances that were the subject of premanufacture notices (PMN) and are also...more
On September 25, 2024, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) posted a NIOSH Science Blog item entitled “Celebrating 20 Years of the Nanotechnology Research Center: Measuring the Small Things,” the...more
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) posted a blog item on September 10, 2024, entitled “NTRC Marks 20 Years of Studying Nanotoxicology: Highlights from the Toxicology and Internal Dose Team” that...more
OSHA issued an unofficial version of a long-awaited proposed rule addressing heat injury and illness prevention. The official version has yet to be published in the Federal Register. The proposed rule requires employers...more
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) posted a blog item on August 1, 2024, entitled “When Nanoparticles Blow Up — Explosion Hazards of Nanoparticles.” According to the blog item, little is known...more
The 2024 (NIOSH) Nanotechnology Research Center (NTRC) Nanotechnology Health and Safety Summit will be held October 9-10, 2024. During the conference, industry, academic, and government experts will share the latest...more
By Eric J. Conn and Beeta B. Lashkari On July 2, 2024, OSHA revealed an unofficial version of its Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) for an Indoor and Outdoor Heat Illness Prevention Rule. For unknown reasons, OSHA has not...more
On July 1, 2024, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) posted a NIOSH Science Blog item entitled “Celebrating 20 Years of the Nanotechnology Research Center: Highlights from Engineering Controls...more
The National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI) will hold a webinar on June 27, 2024, on “What’s Next in NanoEHS: Risk Assessment and Risk Management.” During the webinar, rising nanotechnology environmental, health, and safety...more
On June 11, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published proposed significant new use rules (SNUR) for certain chemical substances that were the subject of premanufacture notices (PMN) and are also subject...more
Plaintiff Says Splenda 100% Natural Ad Claims Leave a Bitter Taste - A class action lawsuit accuses the makers of Splenda Naturals Stevia, a sugar alternative, of misleading consumers with the claim that the product is...more