The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) have solidified their goal of amplifying health and safety securities for workers in a legal development worth monitoring. On October 31, 2023, both institutions executed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) which aims at enhancing interagency coordination and cooperation.
Under the terms of the MOU, OSHA and NLRB will work collaboratively, facilitating a more efficient and coordinated approach to their individual mandates. The objective is to consolidate their efforts in hopes of fortifying worker protections across the United States. As noted by Perkins Coie, this development reflects the commitment of both agencies to synergize their resources in an effort to push for better workplace conditions.
It wouldn’t be unreasonable to predict that this increased cooperation between NLRB and OSHA may translate to potential implications for businesses and legal professionals. It can lead to overlapping jurisdiction in some circumstances, besides an uptick in investigations, enforcement activities, and potential penalties for worker safety and labor violations.
Companies and their counsel must therefore adjust their business operations as necessary to stay within the confines of expected new regulations. It also underscores the importance of companies maintaining comprehensive, up-to-date work safety and labor relation protocols.
For a detailed overview of the implications of the MOU between the NLRB and OSHA, you may refer to the original post here.