OSHA Updates 2019 Workplace Safety Standards

Government agencies constantly propose new rules and revise prior standards. It can be a headache for employers to ensure they remain informed on all changes and avoid costly penalties.

To further improve workplace safety, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has made several recent changes and proposed new rules for 2019.

While there are many, below is a quick summary of some of the major updates. Be sure to further investigate each of these rules, standards, and procedures to make sure you’re compliant.

1.    Beryllium Standards

In its recent Congressional Budget Justification, OSHA stated that it expects to have a final rule for beryllium in the general industry by 2019. Back in January 2017, OSHA issued a final rule adopting a comprehensive general industry standard for exposure to beryllium. Now, it is proposing to modify the general industry standard to clarify and simplify certain provisions. The new rule would, among other things, reduce the permissible exposure limit to 0.2 micrograms per cubic meter of air and establish a new short-term exposure limit.

Comments must be submitted February 11, 2019. Visit OSHA’s beryllium page for more information.

2.     Tracking Workplace Injuries and Illnesses

Up until recently, organizations with 250 employees or more were required to submit OSHA forms 300 (Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses) and 301 (Injury and Illness Incident Report). Businesses with 20 to 249 employees were exempt from submitting these forms.

However, on July 30, 2018, OSHA publicized a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to amend the regulation that requires certain businesses with 250 employees or more from submitting forms 300 and 301. The comment period ended in September 2018, so businesses should expect the final rule this year.

3.     Cranes and Derricks in Construction

In 2010, OSHA finished a major overhaul in construction standards that dealt with the safety and health requirements for operating cranes and derricks. Despite the updates, stakeholders still had major issues regarding the rule, specifically with the requirements surrounding qualifications based on lifting capacity.

In response to these concerns, OSHA proposed a new rule, which went into effect November 10, 2018. The new rule requires the following:

i.        Operator training for employees not yet certified to operate cranes;

ii.        Operator certification via four different permissible options; and

iii.        Employer evaluation of certified operators.

If you employ crane operators, make sure you verify training, certification, and qualifications.

4.     Hazard Communication Standard

In 2003, the United Nations consolidated global standards regarding hazardous chemicals to create safer work environments.

Since then, OSHA has made many changes to more closely follow the best practices and standards adopted by countries all over the world. As part of this continued effort, OSHA scheduled a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for this coming March. The changes could impact more than five million American workplaces. Employers subject to the Hazard Communication Standard should ensure they are compliant with current standards and plan for implementation when the new standards are finalized.

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