In the News: Bill Principe Publishes Article on What Counsel Needs to Tell HR Supervisors on Day One

Constangy's Workplace Safety practice group co-chair, Bill Principe, authored an article for Law.com discussing what counsel needs to tell HR supervisors on day one in order to remain in compliance with OSHA, especially in the absence of a dedicated safety professional on staff. 

Many companies do not have an in-house specialist dedicated to OSHA compliance, which means there are a few essential things to do in order to get your HR supervisor up to speed. 

Ensuring your supervisor knows how to navigate the OSHA website is essential for accessing your company’s inspection history. This history provides the compliance topics that your company must focus on, as well as the status of any issued citations.

The OSHA website provides an overview of important standards that are frequently cited for general industry employers, including hazard communication, respiratory protection, lockout tagout and machine guarding. 

On-site OSHA inspections are most often triggered by lockout tagout or machine guarding standards. This is primarily due to hospitalizations and amputations that require employers to self-report injuries within 24 hours of the incident to OSHA. In response, OSHA conducts on-site inspections to ensure proper safety protocols are followed. 

Bill established that it is important to maintain a quality OSHA 300 log to track work-related injuries or illness illustrated in § 1904.7. Additionally, filling an OSHA 301 and OSHA 300A Annual Summary will ensure compliance with injury and illness related regulations. 

“Consultants familiar with your industry or attorneys who specialize in OSHA law are more likely to provide you with useful, practical training,” Bill says. “To ensure that you know what is needed to be in compliance and to keep your company out of trouble with OSHA.” 

To view the full article, subscribers may click here.