The U.S. Department of Labor鈥檚 Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued 鈥淎 Guide to Restroom Access for Transgender Workers鈥� June 1, which provides employers guidance on best practices regarding restroom access for transgender employees. The publication includes information on OSHA鈥檚 Sanitation Standard, Model Practices, and state and local laws regarding restroom access. 听

The latest OSHA regulatory agenda was released on May 21 and lists the priorities of the administration and the rulemakings they expect to release this year regarding rules on silica exposure, recordkeeping and more.听

OSHA released its latest version of their 鈥淛ob Safety and Health鈥擨t's The Law!鈥� poster April 29 which employers must display if covered by the OSH Act or be subjected to citations or penalties if they fail to do so. Employers do not need to replace previous versions of the poster. The poster is free and can be downloaded on听OSHA鈥檚 website.听

OSHA issued a听final rule听for confined spaces in construction on May 4, which mirrors the general industry standard but adds certain provisions tailored specifically to the construction industry including an emphasis on training, monitoring and evaluating, as well as communication on multi-employer sites. The rule is set to go into effect August 3.

A听new report听released by the Construction Industry Safety Coalition (CISC) found that OSHA's proposed silica standards for construction will cost the industry $5 billion per year鈥攔oughly $4 .5 billion per year more than OSHA鈥檚 estimates. The coalition cautioned that the flawed cost estimates reflect deeper flaws in the rule and urged the federal agency to reconsider its approach.

OSHA released an听interpretation letter听stating that construction contractors are allowed to require employees to pay a deposit for company-issued personal protection equipment (PPE) so that it provides an incentive for the employee to return the equipment. Contractors should be aware that this does not circumvent the requirement that employers provide protection equipment at no expense to the workers.听

OSHA issued a听Letter of Interpretation听Jan. 15 clarifying the new reporting standard for severe injuries on the jobsite which went into effect Jan. 1. The interpretation letter provides a definition of an amputation and also how to distinguish between an amputation and an avulsion. In addition, the letter goes on to discuss whether the loss of an eye includes the loss of sight.听

老牛影视is reminding its contractor member firms that 2014 Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Form 300A work-related injury and illness log summaries must be posted in a visible spot on all construction sites Feb. 1 through April 30.听

The ABC听Heart of American Chapter听and OSHA formalized an alliance to protect the safety and health of Missouri and Kansas construction workers during a signing ceremony Jan. 15.听

Beginning Jan. 1, contractors will face new deadlines and requirements for reporting severe injuries on the jobsite.听The rule听will go into effect Jan. 1, 2015, for all employers covered by the听Occupational Safety and Health Act听- even those who are exempt from maintaining injury and illness records.