EHS Insider Blog

Supreme Court Rules on Interpretive Guidance

A recent Supreme Court ruling made it easier for federal administrative agencies to change their previously issued guidance on the agencies' rules. Before, the agencies were required to engage in a formal process of giving notice and accepting comments whenever they rescinded their guidance. In Perez v. Mortgage Bankers Association, Docket No. 13-1041, however, the Court unanimously held that the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) does not require the agencies to engage in that formal process. Can the ruling lead to OSHA changes? To the extent that the APA applies to OSHA on this issue, then OSHA will be able to make significant changes in the guidance it issues without prior notice. These abrupt changes could increase uncertainty for companies that rely on OSHA's guidance when making decisions about how to comply with OSHA regulations.
Topics: News and Regulatory Alerts

OSHA Announces Final Rule on Procedures for Handling Retaliation Complaints Under Sarbanes-Oxley Act

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration recently published a final rule finalizing procedures for handling whistleblower retaliation complaints filed under Section 806 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. The SOX Act protects employees who report fraudulent activities and violations of Securities Exchange Commission rules that can harm investors in publicly traded companies.
Topics: Whistle Blower Protection News and Regulatory Alerts

Executive Summary: Liberty Mutual's Most Common Workplace Injuries

Liberty Mutual Research Institute recently published the 2014 Workplace Safety Index. It's an annual ranking of the top 10 causes of serious nonfatal workplace injuries. The report is based on work related events that required an employee to miss six or more workdays. Each event type was then ranked according to the total workers' compensation costs. The results are compiled from the most recent data available from the BLS (2012). The Top Three Most Common Workplace Injuries in 2012:
Topics: News and Regulatory Alerts Workforce Safety