Bruce Rolfsen

Cal/OSHA Proposes a New ‘Walkaround Rule’ On Friday, February 13, 2026, the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) issued a notice of proposed rulemaking that would vest the agency with discretion to allow additional...

Ogletree-Deakins: #CalOSHA Proposes a New ‘Walkaround Rule’ ogletree.com/insights-res... #OSHA

U.S. Steel fined $118K for safety lapses in Clairton Coke Works fatal explosion The company was cited 10 times by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

U.S. Steel is facing 10 violations and $118,000 in fines from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration related to last year’s deadly explosion at the Clairton Coke Works. From @triblive.bsky.social

SpaceX shrugged off toxic exposure complaints at Starlink lab Workers say exposure caused serious health issues including a hospitalization and a miscarriage

A #Starlink lab exposed unsuspecting workers to toxic chemicals. Records show #SpaceX didn't act until the state got involved www.investigatewest.org/a-starlink-l...

Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs moves the state closer to adopting worker heat-stress safety measures, state #OSHA rules
azgovernor.gov/office-arizo...

Veterinarians and their assistants have above average illness/injury rates, #BLS finds. It's more than cat scratch fever. #OSHA

bls.gov/opub/ted/202... #BLSdata

The Mysterious Death of a Teen at a Hog Farm

The Mysterious Death of a Teen at a Hog Farm
A 17-year-old worker died at a pork producer in Nebraska run by the governor’s family. Two investigations later, the boy’s mother is still searching for answers. #OSHA
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/19/u...

Coal Miners With Black Lung Say They Are ‘Cast Aside to Die’ Under Trump

As #MSHA's #Silica Rule Faces Political, Legal Challenges #Coal_Miners With #Black_Lung Say They Are ‘Cast Aside to Die’ Under #Trump
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/13/c...

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...