OSHA Issues Final Rule on Regulatory Safety Updates

APPLIES TO

All Employers

EFFECTIVE

July 15, 2019

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The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently issued a final rule to clarify and streamline certain safety standards. For example, it is a set rule that employers must report hearing loss injuries to OSHA if they are work-related. However, determining work-relatedness has been unclear. Now, healthcare providers must follow OSHA’s general standards for determining whether injuries are work-related, as set forth in 29 C.F.R. § 1904.5, when making a determination related to hearing loss.

Additionally, in worksites that have the ability to use 911 services with mobile devices, and not with readily available landlines, the employer must conspicuously post the worksite’s latitude and longitude, or other information that identifies the worksite’s location to employees, so that emergency responders can locate their position more quickly.

Surveillance requirements for cotton dust have been updated. Applicable employers should immediately reassess their testing procedures to be current with the new requirements. Further, employer-provided x-ray requirements have been relaxed for certain chemical exposures, lifeline standards have also been updated, and requirements to use employee social security numbers in certain agency systems have been eliminated. Employers should review the full rule for changes that may affect their specific industries.

Action Items

  1. Review the final rule here.
  2. Have safety protocols updated accordingly.
  3. Subscribers can call our HR On-Call Hotline at (888) 378-2456 for further assistance.

Disclaimer: This document is designed to provide general information and guidance concerning employment-related issues. It is presented with the understanding that ManagEase is not engaged in rendering any legal opinions. If a legal opinion is needed, please contact the services of your own legal adviser.

© 2019 ManagEase

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