New OSHA regime in Arizona following criticism

• Jessie Atencio stepped down as the head of the Arizona Division of Occupational Safety and Health (ADOSH).
• The decision comes months after there has been criticism about workplace safety and families calling for changes.
• The Industrial Commission of Arizona appointed Mark Norton, a long-time ADOSH assistant director, to the position.
• Atencio plans to continue to work part-time for ADOSH during the transition.
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Coalition wants OSHA safety extension 

• The Coalition for Workplace Safety submitted a letter to the U.S. Department of Labor requesting a 60-day extension to the comment period on OSHA notice of proposed rulemaking to the “Worker Walkaround Representative Designation Process.”
• OSHA’s proposed rulemaking would allow employees to designate nonemployees as their representatives during facility walkarounds with OSHA compliance safety and health officers.
• CWS’s letter stated this is a significant change to OSHA’s procedures for workplace safety inspections, and that a 60-day extension to the comment period would ensure the regulated community has the opportunity it needs to analyze the changes.
• CWS also said that by providing this extension, OSHA will obtain more insightful and useful input from the regulated community before making such significant changes to its procedures.
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Worker killed at Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix

• A construction worker was killed while erecting the inaugural Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix.
• The man suffered a major laceration to the neck while working at the site’s Bellagio Fountains on the Las Vegas Strip around 11:30 a.m., according to the Las Vegas Metro Police Department.
• The injured worker was rushed to an area hospital, where he later died.
• OSHA is investigating the workplace tragedy.
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Lawsuit claims nurses did not receive eligible funds

• The U.S. Department of Labor filed a complaint in federal court alleging Reliance Staffing LLC and its owner, Fahim Uddin, failed to pay healthcare professionals overtime earned while working at skilled nursing facilities in Michigan.
• An investigation by the department’s Wage and Hour Division alleged that Uddin and Reliance Staffing misclassified their workers as independent contractors when, in fact, they were employees.
• By doing so, the employer failed to pay $90,765 in overtime wages to 70 registered nurses, licensed practical nurses and certified nursing assistants.
• The employers also do not pay applicable employment taxes or workers’ compensation on their behalf.
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