OSHA’s latest semiannual regulatory agenda was released on Nov. 2. It lists the priorities of the administration and the rulemakings they expect to release this year.

To assist employers in complying with new rules and regulations, OSHA released new wallet cards to serve as resources on the jobsite addressing the OSHA reporting requirements and hazard identification training. The resources can be found on OSHA’s publication page.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Oct. 23Ìýissued a directiveÌýfor OSHA compliance personnel on how to enforce its 2010 standard for construction cranes and derricks. The directive, which covers jobsites where power-operated equipment covered byÌýSubpart CC – Cranes and Derricks in ConstructionÌýare present, provides guidance for OSHA inspectors on how to conduct site visits, interpret the rule, and decide when to issue citations. Ìý

On Oct. 14, ÀÏÅ£Ó°ÊÓsubmitted comments to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requesting itÌýwithdraw a proposed ruleÌýand supplemental notice that would require employers to electronically submit detailed injury and illness records to the agency. For the first time, OSHA plans to make this information publically available on the Internet through a new searchable database and use the data for enforcement purposes.

OSHAÌýissued a final ruleÌýon September 26 extending the compliance deadline for employers to ensure that crane operators are certified by an OSHA-recognized accredited certification body. The deadline has been extended by three years to November 10, 2017. This extension will continue the current employer duties to ensure crane operators are competent to operate a crane safely.

Under a final rule issued By the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Sept. 11, contractors will face new deadlines and requirements for reporting severe injuries on the jobsite.ÌýThe ruleÌýwill go into effect Jan. 1, 2015 for all employers covered by theÌýOccupational Safety and Health Act, even those who are exempt from maintaining injury and illness records.

ÀÏÅ£Ó°ÊÓand its allies in the construction industry once again cautioned OSHA that if the agency moves forward with its proposed rule to address silica exposure in the construction industry, contractors will be stuck with unnecessary regulations that are technologically and economically infeasible to implement.

OSHA has released an updated list of almost 500 industry groups that are exempt from programmed safety inspections for FY2015; the list includes five construction-related North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes. An employer would be exempt from a programmed inspection when there are 10 or fewer employees at a worksite.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) placed into effect an interim enforcement policy until Oct. 31 which delays enforcement of most new requirementsÌý of the Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution and Electrical Protective EquipmentÌýfinal rule for employers who are complying with the existing General Industry rule.

According to OSHA’s latest semiannual regulatory agenda, released May 23, the agency plans to issue a final rule on confined spaces in 2014. The regulatory agenda lists the priorities of the administration and the rulemakings they expect to release this year; however, OSHA is not required to adhere to the timeline.