Bruce Rolfsen

Extreme Heat Spurs New Laws Aimed at Protecting Workers Worldwide

Extreme Heat Spurs New Laws Aimed at Protecting Workers Worldwide
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/13/c...

DOL HQ got an exterior renovation this week. Now, it they'd just brighten up the dreary interior.

Gas valve failure during routine maintenance work may have led to fatal explosion, US Steel says U.S. Steel says preparations for a routine maintenance task may have led to an explosion at a U.S. Steel coal-processing plant near Pittsburgh that left two dead, sent 10 to hospitals and damaged part...

Gas valve failure during routine maintenance work may have led to fatal explosion, US Steel says
apnews.com/article/clai...

6 people are found dead at a Colorado dairy. Authorities suspect an accident involving gas exposure Authorities say an apparent accident involving exposure to gas at a dairy in Colorado has killed six people.

6 people are found dead at a Colorado dairy. Authorities suspect an accident involving gas exposure
apnews.com/article/colo...

Farmworkers keep dying from heat illness, 20 years after California vowed to protect them Agricultural workers are toiling in the state's worst heat wave this year, amid questions about the state's commitment to ensure their safety.

California farmworkers keep dying from #heat illness, 20 years after the state government vowed to protect them. latimes.com/california/s... #CalOSHA #OSHA

#DollarTree's worker safety woes are back. Virginia #OSHA (#VOSH) is seeking a $284,000 fine against a store in Alexandria (my home town) for 4 repeat violations.
osha.gov/ords/imis/es...

#Trump's "skinny budget" for the #DOL in FY2026 makes no mention of #OSHA or #MSHA. (But it does claim #Easter_Seals is a " leftist, DEI-promoting" entity funded, in part, by DOL.)
Budget details:
aboutblaw.com/bh5s

From former OSHA boss David Michaels....

.@Dish Network LLC wins administrative court victory over #OSHA. #OSHRC ALJ vacates $124,000 fine and willful violation of fall protection rule during installation work. @JacksonLewisPC represented Dish.
Decision is below.
www.oshrc.gov/wp-content/u...

#OSHA general duty clause citation and $13,653 fine against Bobcat Contracting LLC stemming from deaths of two workers in a natural gas explosion vacated by #OSHRC ALJ. @Steptoe_Johnson PLLC represented Bobcat. @atmosenergy Corporation owned pipeline

www.oshrc.gov/wp-content/u...

#OSHA to host online public hearing on heat stress prevention proposed rulemaking on June 16.
www.osha.gov/news/newsrel...

Feds bow to pressure, reinstate head of WTC Health Program Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-Long Island) announced Saturday that HHS had reversed its decision to terminate Howard as it planned to lay off two-thirds of NIOSH staffers.

Feds bow to pressure, reinstate head of WTC Health Program www.nydailynews.com/2025/04/05/f...

Big Law Mostly Sits Out Industry Response to Trump Orders (2) Few large law firms joined an amicus brief backing Perkins Coie in its lawsuit against President Donald Trump over an executive order targeting the firm.

#Big_Law Mostly Sits Out Industry Response to #Trump Executive Orders Against Law Firms.

@arnoldporter, @Freshfields, @FenwickWest, @SusmanGodfrey, and Davis Wright Tremaine (@DWTLaw) were among the large firms signing the brief opposing executive order.

news.bloomberglaw.com/business-and...

#OSHRC upholds two #OSHA violations and $11,250 fine against building contractor Montroy Development LLC for endangering workers near excavations at a home construction site in Camillus, NY. oshrc.gov/wp-content/u...

Tennessee safety agency says workers killed in flooding were given time to evacuate A report from the Tennessee Occupational Safety and Health Administration says workers at an East Tennessee plastics company who died in flooding from Hurricane Helene had time to evacuate.

apnews.com/article/hele... safety agency says workers killed in flooding were given time to evacuate

#UPS accused by #OSHA of failing to provide in August adequate first aid protection to drivers in Texas. Faces $167,514 proposed fine for repeat violation. In 2011-'21 OSHA ass't secretary nominee David Keeling oversaw UPS safety efforts.
osha.gov/ords/imis/es...

#Goodyear Tire faces a $1.26 Million fine from Virginia #OSHA. An inspection of Danville plant found 78 alleged violations. The plant has been cited several previous times following deaths and lesser mishaps.
osha.gov/ords/imis/es... #VOSH

#ElonMusk's #Tesla faces three #OSHA violations, $49,650 fine, stemming from death of construction worker at Austin #Gigaplant. Electric panel being worked on wasn't deenergized, agency says.
osha.gov/ords/imis/es...

#OSHRC ALJ upholds three #OSHA violations, $10,500 fine, against #Prime_International_Shipping LLC (linkedin.com/company/prim...) stemming from worker death. Judge rejected claim that endangered workers were independent contractors, not Prime employees. oshrc.gov/wp-content/u...

Department of Justice | Homepage | United States Department of JusticeLock Official website of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). DOJ’s mission is to enforce the law and defend the interests of the United States according to the law; to ensure public safety against threat...

In a Federal District Court, #Fabcon Precast LLC Pleads Guilty in Worker Death Case. Company willfully violated #OSHA rule.
www.justice.gov/opa/pr/ohio-...

Nomination | The U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions The U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions

Senate Labor Cmte set to vote Feb. 27 on @LChavezDeRemer's nomination for #DOL secretary.
help.senate.gov/hearings/nom...
Cmte will also hold Feb. 27 hearing on nomination of
Keith Sonderling as dep sec.

#OSHA violations against #Schindler_Elevator Corp and $26,787 fine were vacated by an #OSHRC ALJ who concluded the agency incorrectly cited the company using standards for general industry when the work was actually construction. @SchindlerNA
www.oshrc.gov/wp-content/u...

.@ElonMusk’s #DOGE to Lead #Trump White House Purge of Federal Regulations. Would enable DOGE to declare #OSHA, #MSHA rules exceed agency authority.

news.bgov.com/bloomberg-go...

Bloomberg Law News Stay ahead of legal developments and gain critical insights with news from Bloomberg Law.

At Confirmation Hearing, Trump #DOL Sec Nominee
@LChavezDeRemer Walks Back Past Support of PRO Act Bill.
news.bloomberglaw.com/daily-labor-...
news.bloomberglaw.com

Trump Selects Former Amazon, UPS Safety Director to Lead OSHA President Donald Trump plans to nominate David Keeling to head the Labor Department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration, according to a White House document sent to congressional staff and...

Bloomberg Law: #Trump Selects Former #Amazon, #UPS Safety Director #David_Keeling to Lead #OSHA, #Wayne_Palmer for #MSHA.
news.bloomberglaw.com/daily-labor-...

Nomination of Lori M. Chavez-DeRemer to serve as Secretary of Labor | The U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions The U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions

TV Programming note. Just in case you were planning to watch @LChavezDeRemer 's #DOL sec confirmation hearing today, change your plans, reprogram the DVR. The 5ish inches of snow in DC led to the hearing's delay until Feb. 19. New details below.

www.help.senate.gov/hearings/nom... #OSHA #MSHA

OSH Review Commission vacated #OSHA repeat violation citation against @Trinity_Solar LLC, $85,938 fine stemming from the fatal fall of a rooftop solar panel installer. oshrc.gov/assets/1/6/2...
The worker was wearing harness at the time of the fall and Trinity had previously installed rope lines.

#Amanda_Laihow Set to Be #OSHA Deputy Assistant Secretary Pick, the agency's #2 political appointee. No Senate confirmation required. Laihow served as #OSHRC commissioner and attorney.
news.bloomberglaw.com/daily-labor-...

Union Group Sues to Block DOGE Labor Department Data Access (1) A coalition of unions and a worker advocacy organization are suing to block the Department of Government Efficiency from gaining entry to the US Labor Department’s computer systems.

#AFLCIO, Other Groups Sue to Block #DOGE Labor Department Data Access. news.bloomberglaw.com/daily-labor-... #OSHA #MSHA

#Tesla's Fremont, Calif. auto plant cited by #CalOSHA for serious violation of state's outdoors worker heat stroke protection rule. $13,500 fine sought. Fed #OSHA doesn't have a rule.
www.osha.gov/ords/imis/es... #ElonMusk