Last year, the mining industry experienced its second lowest annual fatality rate, and the injury and illness rates remained low. The industry doesn’t appear to have lost any ground on safety or health during the current global pandemic, but holding ground will be easier than improving upon it. To improve, many in the industry are looking to technological solutions. Last year, Assistant Secretary of Labor for Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) David Zatezalo told…

Michigan recently joined the growing list of states creating temporary emergency rules that require employers to take certain steps to protect their workforces against COVID-19. The rules by the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSH) will remain in effect for at least six months starting October 14, 2020.…

OSHA announced last week that it has issued 204 citations so far relating to COVID-19 with total penalties of $2,856,533. As these penalties continue to climb, OSHA also issued new guidance to help employers understand which standards it most often cites relating to the pandemic.…

Many companies and organizations will be updating their COVID-19 plans as a result of new CDC guidance this week. Based on a new case study, the CDC has significantly expanded when someone is in “close contact” with the virus. This definition is at the heart of almost every workplace, school, and healthcare COVID-19 policy. The broader definition will likely significantly expand social distancing, contact tracing and the number of people required to isolate after a…