OSHA's On-Site Consultation Program

OSHA Article Focusing on the On-Site Consultation Program

Employers can find out about potential hazards at their worksites, improve their occupational safety and health management system, and qualify for an exemption from scheduled Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) enforcement inspections when they request assistance from the agency’s free, confidential, and voluntary On-Site Consultation Program.

OSHA’s consultation service is available through state agencies or universities in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and several U.S. Territories. The highly trained safety and occupational health professionals work with employers to identify workplace hazards, provide advice on compliance with OSHA standards, and assist in establishing workplace safety and health management programs.

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NLRB Reverses Specialty Healthcare Decision on Micro-Unions

In a significant development for the pipeline industry, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) on December 15 issued a ruling in PCC Structurals Inc. (365 NLRB No. 160) abandoning the Obama board’s Specialty Healthcare decision, which allowed employees to organize in “micro units.” The decision reinstated the previous standard that employees have to share an “overwhelming community of interests” to be an appropriate bargaining unit.

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New OSHA Safety Resources

Two new resources from OSHA are in the Toolbox & Best Practices Library:

Roof Tarping Safety Fact Sheet and OSHA and Interagency Resources for Hurricanes and Floods.

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Jobsite Juniors Offer for APCA Members

APCA Journal - 4th Quarter 2017 Edition Available

The latest edition of the Pipeline Contractors Journal is in the mail but you can avoid the wait by reading it online.

This issue discusses change at APCA , features APCA's Year-End Product Showcase, takes an in-depth look Inside Washington and more.

Take it with you

The APCA Journal is portable and optimized for reading on your phone or tablet.

 

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OSHA Interim Enforcement Guidance

Interim Enforcement Guidance for the Respirable Crystalline Silica in Construction Standard

Last month OSHA shared a memorandum announcing that for the first 30 days of enforcement of the Respirable Crystalline Silica in Construction Standard, employers making a good faith effort to comply with the standard were offered compliance assistance in lieu of enforcement.  As the 30 days come to a close, OSHA has issued a memorandum with interim enforcement guidance while a compliance directive is under review.  The memorandum provides inspection and citation guidance for Compliance Safety and Health Officers (CSHOs), and it includes flow charts to assist compliance officers with evaluating employers’ control methods.

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