Compliance Stuff

A bill introduced in the U.S. Senate on May 21, 2025, seeks to significantly expand the scope of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (OSH Act) by extending its protections to public employees at the federal, state, and local levels . The bill, titled the “ Public Service Worker Protection Act ” (PSWPA), would amend the OSH Act to include employees of the United States, states, and political subdivisions of states within its definition of “employer,” thereby affording public-sector workers the same occupational safety and health protections currently available to private-sector employees . Companion legislation ( H.R. 3139 ) was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives earlier in May. Quick Hits The legislation would amend Section 3(5) of the OSH Act to explicitly include public employees, covering federal, state, and local government workers. The amendment would take effect ninety days after the PSWPA’s enactment for most public employees. For federal OSHA workplac...

  Construction employers must be ready for a federal safety rule that takes effect on Monday. A major update to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) rules regarding safety and health regulations for the construction industry mandates that employers provide personal protective equipment (PPE) that properly fits workers based on their unique body type. Starting January 13, OSHA will require that employers ensure PPE – such as hard hats, safety harnesses, gloves, and protective footwear – not only is appropriate for protecting against specific job hazards but also fits each worker properly based on their body size and shape. This change, which was announced on December 11, is particularly important given the rising number of women that work in the construction field and the specific challenges that arise when it comes to PPE. What are the key considerations you need to know about and what steps should you take to comply with the new rule? Quick Background Proper ...

  OSHA Developments.   Two of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) regulatory proposals took significant steps forward recently: Infectious Diseases . OSHA’s  proposed rule  “to protect employees from exposure to pathogens that can cause significant infectious disease” has advanced to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) for review. This means that a proposal might be issued before the end of the Biden administration, though the incoming Trump administration will obviously determine the proposal’s fate. Personal Protective Equipment in Construction . Also at OIRA is OSHA’s final rule relating to personal protective equipment (PPE) in construction. This stage of OIRA review is the last step in the rulemaking process prior to finalization. The final rule is expected to focus on ensuring that  PPE fits properly  on smaller workers, particularly women. At this point, it is not clear whether any final rule will be promulg...