News Digest 1-14-2021

 

Wall falls at Massachusetts residential site, injuring two

Two construction workers were injured by a wall that fell on the second story of a new house under construction in Windham, Massachusetts on Monday. Fed-OSHA is expected to investigate. Eagle-Tribune (North Andover, Mass.)

 

Group seeks to expose people who make OR-OSHA complaints

In Roseburg, Oregon, two senior citizens have been targeted by a group calling itself Citizens Against Tyranny, and more are likely to be targeted in the future. Last month, the group began publishing names of people it alleged have turned in businesses to the Oregon OSHA for violating COVID-19 safety rules, and it demands that all elected officials sign the group’s declaration or face recall. La Grande Observer

 

Biden will ask Fed-OSHA to reconsider decision to skip emergency COVID standards

President-elect Joe Biden is expected to ask Fed-OSHA to reconsider its refusal to issue emergency standards for COVID-19 workplace safety. Waste Dive

 

Fed-OSHA expands debt collection efforts

Fed-OSHA has announced a new process for collecting citation penalties that involves three penalty payment letters to be sent seven, 30, and 60 days after an establishment fails to pay a penalty based on a final order. The agency says its initiative is part of broader efforts across the Labor Department, which announced a final rule intended to improve its debt-collection policy. CBIA

 

Reminder: Form 300A data due March 2

Covered employers must electronically submit Form 300A data for calendar year 2020 between January 2, 2021 and March 2, 2021. A paper copy of the 300A form must also be posted in for each establishment from February 1 through April 30. Work-related COVID-19 cases may trigger recording and reporting obligations, which would impact the 300A data. National Law Review

 

Michigan school district, fire department fined for COVID-19 violations

Three stores, two restaurants, a school district, a fire department and a family fun center are the latest workplaces to be cited by the state of Michigan for failing to take COVID-19 safety precautions. MLive