State News

Tumwater, WA — After a record-setting heat wave and numerous wildfires last summer, the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries has issued emergency rules intended to protect workers exposed to outdoor heat and unhealthy air caused by wildfire smoke.

Columbus, OH — Legislation recently introduced in the Ohio Statehouse would direct health care employers to develop and implement a workplace violence prevention plan within six months.

Tumwater, WA — Responding to concerns that some of its fall protection rules aren’t “at least as effective” as federal OSHA’s general industry and construction standards, the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries has initiated rulemaking to revise certain provisions of its Unified Safety Standards for Fall Protection.

Salem, OR — Oregon OSHA has adopted permanent rules intended to safeguard workers from extreme heat and wildfire smoke, calling them “the most protective of their kind in the United States.”

Oakland, CA — Two fact sheets, along with an updated FAQ document, from the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health highlight the latest revisions to the state’s emergency temporary standards on COVID-19 – adopted April 21 by the Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board.

Washington — OSHA has extended until July 5 the deadline to comment on its proposal to revoke Arizona’s State Plan status.

Raleigh, NC — Three new workplace safety videos are available at the Charles H. Livengood Jr. Memorial Library in Raleigh, the North Carolina Department of Labor has announced.

New York — Constadino “Gus” Sirakis is urging engineers, architects, contractors and property owners to help make New York City safer.

New York — Building construction-related incidents in New York City dropped 10.6% in 2021, and combined worker injuries and deaths edged up less than 1% even as the number of construction permits issued increased nearly 14%, reports the city’s Department of Buildings.

Salem, OR — Oregon OSHA has launched a free online training course on silica hazards for Spanish-speaking workers.