Occupational Safety and Health

Safety and health concerns facing employers today

Employers have always endeavored to provide a safe workplace for their employees, and the obligation has expanded due to new requirements prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The challenges employers face will continue due to the number of compliance regulations, policies, and interpretations under the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the Mine Safety and Health Act (MSHA), and state and local laws.

Employers are often looking for advice on successful implementation of safety protocols and procedures, injuries and illness programs, or compliance audits. Lately, frequent, and sometimes conflicting, guidance offered by OSHA, the Department of Transportation, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and other state and public agencies across the country continues to stymie employers with national operations. Regardless of the challenge, Littler acts as a partner for employers.

Littler’s experience matters

Companies in many industries rely on our Occupational Safety and Health lawyers to:

• Represent employers in agency disputes with OSHA, MSHA or state equivalent agencies.
   
• Assist clients during OSHA/MSHA or state inspections, providing advice and representation.
   
• Provide on-the-ground support at catastrophic workplace incidents including illnesses, accidents, and fatalities.
   
• Prepare and respond to retaliation claims under OSHA’s 11c or state equivalent and other safety complaints.
   
• Provide guidance on federal-OSHA/MSHA and corresponding state program regulations, advising employers on how the regulations apply to their workplaces and operations.
   
• Prepare and review written safety programs, standard operating procedures, workplace safety rules, and employee handbooks for compliance with local, state, and federal statutes.
   
• Conduct safety and health compliance assessments and audits for worksites.

Acting as a partner, we can help develop preventive practices, assist with crisis management, and assist with developing abatement or remediation in addition to our representation during litigation. This work spans all areas, including issues related to injuries occurring in the workplace, COVID-19 and other infectious diseases, heat illness, workplace violence issues, recordkeeping, industry-based specific safety standards, and basic OSHA compliance.

Our lawyers help employers comply with safety- and health-related challenges wherever they may arise. We have hands-on experience with the complex network of workplace safety regulations. In assisting employers with workplace safety issues, we keep them apprised of regulatory and administrative changes, along with corresponding legal issues. We have established relationships with certified industrial hygienists, safety, and other professionals to assist employers that need additional resources to comply with applicable regulations.