This memorandum provides updated interim guidance to Compliance Safety and Health Officers (CSHOs) for enforcing the requirements of 29 CFR Part 1904 with respect to the recording of occupational illnesses, specifically cases of COVID-19. On May 26, 2020, the previous memorandum on this topic[1] will be rescinded, and this new memorandum will go into and… [Read More]

Recent testing of specific DBI-SALA Delta & Exofit Arc Flash harnesses have returned negative test results on some units. The Arc Flash Standard (ASTM F887) requires all arc flash rated harnesses be subjected to an Arc Flash followed by a successful dynamic drop test. It should be noted there is variability in Arc Flash testing… [Read More]

Counterfeit respirators are products that are falsely marketed and sold as being NIOSH-approved and may not be capable of providing appropriate respiratory protection to workers. When NIOSH becomes aware of counterfeit respirators or those misrepresenting NIOSH approval on the market, we will post them here to alert users, purchasers, and manufacturers. NIOSH-approved respirators have an… [Read More]

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed an executive order Wednesday extending workers’ compensation to essential workers who test positive for coronavirus. The governor said during his daily press conference that the last thing the state needs is for healthcare workers to get sick but continue to go to work because they cannot afford to not get paid. The… [Read More]

As the coronavirus pandemic derails the nation’s economy, workers bearing the brunt of the crisis are banding together in levels not seen in a generation, striking and holding sickouts at meat processing plants, fast-food restaurants and warehouses to demand better protection and safer working conditions. For its part, organized labor, which has seen its ranks decline in the U.S. for… [Read More]

A list of general COVID-19 resources grouped by agency and additional industry-specific COVID-19 resources grouped by industry. This is intended as a resource and is not comprehensive.

Workers have the right to file a whistleblower complaint online with OSHA (or 1-800-321-OSHA) if they believe their employer has retaliated against them for exercising their rights under the whistleblower protection laws enforced by the agency. Acts of retaliation can include terminations, demotions, denials of overtime or promotion, or reductions in pay or hours. “Employees have… [Read More]

Washing your gloves and sleeves with mild soap as outlined in the ASTM F496 standard is the best way to ensure your gloves and sleeves are clean. Per the standard, “The gloves and sleeves shall be washed with a mild soap or mild detergent and water. After washing, the gloves and sleeves shall be thoroughly… [Read More]