Nationally:www.ieci.org
OSHA Issues Guidelines for 10-Hour and 30-Hour Training
The
U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has revised
the training requirements of the Outreach Training Program to limit
training sessions to 7.5 hours per day. This will mandate the OSHA
10-hour course take a minimum of two days, while the OSHA 30-hour course
take a minimum for four days. Training that does not meet the new
requirements will no longer be recognized by OSHA.
This
policy is effective immediately and will be noted in the revision of
the Outreach Training Program Guidelines scheduled for October 2010.
OSHA may grant exception in extremely extenuating circumstances. OSHA
will not consider cost savings, trainer availability, time limits or
missing work as extenuating circumstances. Exception requests must be
sent at least eight weeks prior to the start of the class to the
Director, OSHA Office of Training and Educational Program.
Also,
there is a new two-hour training component, entitled "Introduction to
OSHA," which emphasizes workers' rights. It is required content in every
10- and 30-hour OSHA Construction, General Industry, and Maritime
Outreach course. OSHA developed the component in support of the
Secretary of Labor's goal of strengthening the voice of workers on the
job.
Again, these new guidelines are effective immediately. To learn more, visit OSHA's website here.
OSHA Reform Bill Not Sent to Floor for Vote
UPDATE:
Due to the efforts of the small business community to educate Congress
about the drastic effects the OSHA reform language included in the mine
safety bill would have, House leadership has not sent the bill to the
floor for a vote.
The Protecting America's Workers Act
(PAWA) legislation is a major piece of the White House and
Congressional Majority push to "reform" the Occupational Safety and
Health Act. In reality, workplace accident, injury and fatality rates
have been in decline for decades thanks to employers focus on safety,
along with a cooperative working relationship with OSHA. PAWA would not
in any way create or promote safer workplaces, instead focusing on
increased enforcement and penalties.
Two
weeks ago, some of the key provisions of PAWA were inserted into
legislation concerning mine safety, which has become a hot button
subject after several recent tragedies, most notably explosions at the
Upper Big Branch and Sago mines in West Virginia. Despite the title, The Miner Safety and Health Act of 2010 (H.R. 5663) actually contains several provisions from PAWA that deal with OSHA.
Federal Contractors Must Post Notices Encouraging Employees to Organize
Effective
June 21, 2010, all new federal contracts will contain requirements that
prime contractors and subcontractors post notices informing their
employees of their rights to form a union, pursuant to the National
Labor Relations Act.
This
new regulation implements President Barack Obama's Executive Order
13496, which stated the workers' productivity is enhanced and federal
contracts efficiently and economically completed when workers are
well-informed of their federal labor law rights.
Final Rule Issued to Implement Project Labor Agreements (PLAs)
The Obama Administration has published, in the Federal Register,
the Final Rule implementing Executive Order 13502, which encourages and
authorizes the use of union-only PLAs on federal construction projects.
Union-only
PLAs restrict competition by requiring that a contract be awarded only
to companies who agree to collective bargaining and union hiring. Union-only PLAs exclude a majority of the workforce from the opportunity to participate in federally-funded projects.
To read the entire Rule, please click here.
