New OSHA rules to go into effect

• The U.S. Department of Labor has a final rule that will require certain employers in designated high-hazard industries to electronically submit injury and illness information to OSHA.
• The final rule takes effect on Jan. 1, 2024, and now includes establishments with 100 or more employees in certain high-hazard industries must electronically submit information from their Form 300-Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses, and Form 301-Injury and Illness Incident Report to OSHA once a year.
• These submissions are in addition to the submission of Form 300A-Summary of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses.
• To improve data quality, establishments are required to include their legal company name when making electronic submissions to OSHA from their injury and illness records.
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More safeguards for warehouse workers

• OSHA launched a national emphasis program aimed at preventing workplace hazards in warehouses, processing facilities, distribution centers, and high-risk retail establishments.
• Under this three-year emphasis program, the agency will conduct comprehensive safety inspections focused on hazards related to powered industrial vehicle operations, material handling and storage, walking and working surfaces, means of egress, and fire protection.
• The program will also include inspections of retail establishments with high injury rates with a focus on storage and loading areas.
• However, OSHA may expand an inspection’s scope when evidence shows that violations might exist in other areas of the establishment.
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OSHA investigating death at Wisconsin lake

• OSHA is investigating the death of a man at the former location of Advance Cast Stone in Random Lake in Sheboygan County, Wisconsin.
• Deputies say the man was working on a lift doing overnight maintenance when he fell off and hit his head.
• He later died from his injuries and was found Thursday morning when employees arrived for work. Deputies say the man wasn’t using his safety harness.
• No names have been released.
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UPS workers battling the heat, negotiations

• About 340,000 drivers, dispatchers, and warehouse workers are currently in contract negotiations with UPS and made climate change and extreme heat a headline labor issue.
• If they don’t secure a contract by July 31, they are poised to initiate the largest single-employer strike in U.S. history.
• Since 2015, UPS has reported at least 143 heat-related injuries to OSHA.
• UPS often requires drivers and warehouse employees to work six days a week and more than 12 hours a day in the heat, and the company measures worker productivity by surveillance cameras and sensors.
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