In the upcoming years, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is expected to ramp up its inspection and regulation activities. The Biden Administration’s pledge for OSHA to be more proactive in ensuring employee safety has resulted in an upswing in inspectors’ hiring, appointment of new administrators, increased inspections, and aggressive citation issuance. This proactive approach extends to the revival of older regulations and expansion of current ones. As reported by JD Supra, here’s a brief summary of these recent actions.
- New inspectors have been hired, a step that demonstrates a committed move towards enforcing existing and new regulations expected to be rolled out in 2023 and 2024.
- Higher citation issuance is aggressive enforcement in practice. OSHA is plainly showing that they will not hesitate to hold violators accountable.
- The appointment of new administrators aims to rejuvenate the organization and bring innovative ideas to help it meet its responsibilities in a rapidly-changing world of work.
- The resurrection of old rules shows the organization’s retroactive approach in addressing workplace safety. Some less recent rules may still hold relevance in the current environment and their revival signals that OSHA is not just about forging ahead, but also about reflecting on what has worked in the past.
- Existing rules are being expanded – this indicates a desire not just to lay down new laws, but also to make sure the existing ones are as comprehensive and as effective as possible.
The changes from OSHA are certainly ones to watch in the coming years, especially for legal professionals working in corporations that are affected by these regulations. By staying updated on these developments, businesses can ensure they are in full compliance with all OSHA regulations, thus avoiding penalties and fostering a safer work environment.