OSHA’s Confined Space Rule Puts Pressure on Contractors

On May 4, 2015, OSHA released its long-pending 162-page final rule establishing a confined space standard for the construction industry. The rule, which takes...

OSHA Whistleblower Prosecutions Rise

Whistleblower prosecutions by OSHA have been rising steadily during the current administration. During FY 2014, OSHA made nearly 3,300 whistleblower determinations. While a majority...

Deflate-gate, the False Claims Act, and Dishonest Competitors

I think the reason “deflate-gate” got so much press is that we, as Americans, believe in fairness in our sporting events. But there are...

OSHA Puts Construction Company Out of Business … Permanently!

You think you’re having a bad day when OSHA knocks on your door or shows up at your worksite, right? What about when OSHA...

Contractor’s Considerations When Addressing Dispute Resolution Provisions

Important considerations exist for contractors when negotiating contract terms pertaining to dispute resolution. In addition to litigation through court, other alternative dispute resolution options...

Denied Comp Claim Leads To OSHA Visit

Nearly a third of OSHA inspections are triggered by employee complaints of various sorts. In some cases, investigators come to the worksite because a...

How to Make a Bad Situation Worse

It is said that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over, and expecting a different result. In a recent...

Workforce Development Assessment Tool

In the modern construction industry, finding and retaining a sufficient number of reliable, skilled workers proves to be an ongoing challenge faced by many...

OSHRC Clarifies Criteria for Willful Violations

In a recent decision, the federal Occupational Safety & Health Review Commission (OSHRC) issued a decision reversing a judge’s ruling that had decreased the...

Federal Court Upholds OSHA’s Expansive Subpoena Power

The United States District Court (E.D.N.Y.) recently ruled that the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) has authority to issue administrative subpoenas duces Tecumseh...