Violence prevention costly

• It will cost employers $1.2 billion annually for a proposed federal rule protecting healthcare workers from workplace violence, according to OSHA.
• The new standard may cover 14 million healthcare and social workers.
• General practice medical clinics and dentist offices wouldn’t be covered.
• A required small-business review is set to begin on March 13.
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Contractor faces $234K in penalties

• Federal workplace safety inspectors have again cited a Derry, New Hampshire, contractor for not protecting their employees against potentially lethal falls, this time at worksites in Merrimack and Salem.
• OSHA found Ridge Runner Construction LLC exposing employees to falls of up to 20 feet as they performed roofing work, and worked on ladders that did not extend at least 3 feet above the roofs’ edges for required stability.
• The contractor also failed to provide effective fall protection training, ensure proper anchorage for lifelines and have a competent person inspect both worksites to identify and correct hazards.
• OSHA cited the company for fall-related hazards at worksites in North Reading and Peabody, Massachusetts, in 2021 and 2017.
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Decision impacts clarity of water requirements 

1. The Department of Industrial Relations Occupational Safety and Health Appeals Board issued a precedential decision regarding the provision of water at outdoor worksites.
2. The decision affirmed that it must be as close as practicable to the areas where employees are working to encourage frequent consumption.
3. Cal/OSHA opened a complaint-initiated safety inspection at the Rios Farming Co. vineyard in St. Helena on August 6, 2018. Inspectors found some workers had to climb through multiple grape trellises to access drinking water.
4. On Jan. 7, 2019, Cal/OSHA cited Rios Farming Co. for a repeat-serious violation for not having water as close as practicable for their employees.
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OSHA withdraws new rule

• OSHA withdrew its proposed rule that would have revoked the final approval status of Arizona’s state plan for occupational safety and health.
• The decision follows the issuance of a proposed revocation and extensive comments from both sides of the debate.
• Adopting a final rule consistent with OSHA’s Standards Improvement Project Phase-IV, which focuses on updating construction standards.
• OSHA has leveled similar threats against other state programs and, like Arizona, those states have yet to flinch in spite of those challenges.
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