Below is an excerpt of an article co-authored with Environmental, Energy + Telecommunications Group lawyer Jon Schaeferpublished by EHS Today on August 31, 2023.

Across the country, manufacturers are learning they need to ensure employees working both inside and out are adequately protected from heat-related risks. Earlier in the summer, OSHA issued the

In today’s world, employees spend increasingly more time at work, including in the manufacturing industry where jobs are generally not remote.  This means that employees may have close working and personal relationships with each other, such as dating and romantic relationships as well as friendships.  Such relationships, between peers, employees and supervisors, or even employees

‘Tis especially the season this year for company holiday parties.  Manufacturers may have avoided hosting large group gatherings over the last few years, including parties, and may be seeking ways to engage workers and increase morale in the workplace at this time of year; to that end, hosting holiday or festive lunches, parties, and gatherings

This is the second of two posts dedicated to reopening plans for manufacturers.  In the first post on May 26, I addressed the first two questions which every manufacturer may wish to ask as it forms its reopening plans.  Manufacturing;  Back to Business (Part One) (May 26, 2020).  Here, I address the next four questions.

A few months back, I posted some thoughts about recent efforts to legalize medical and recreational marijuana, with an emphasis on the potential issues such laws would have on manufacturers – particularly manufacturers in a space requiring a heightened concern for employee safety.  See Legal Pot = Manufacturing Storm Clouds” (May 29, 2019). 

With the new year comes a new focus on increasing criminal prosecutions against employers for worker safety violations.  In the end of December, the Department of Justice (“DOJ”) and the Department of Labor (“DOL”) announced a plan to deter workplace safety violations through more stringent criminal prosecution.  Under the new plan, the DOJ will work

In August 2015, OSHA updated its National Emphasis Program (NEP) on Amputations.  Based on a review of data from general industry as well as targeted industries, OSHA determined that workplace amputations were being underreported.  OSHA updated the NEP on Amputations to target all workplaces with machinery or equipment capable of causing amputations.

OSHA defines

The United States Supreme Court issued its much anticipated decision in Young v. United Parcel Service, (U.S. Sup. Ct., March 24, 2015), in which the Court set forth a new standard for litigating pregnancy discrimination claims and arguably injected considerable uncertainty into “restricted duty” or “light duty” work programs.

Factual Background

Peggy Young worked

It is our annual tradition at the beginning of each year to report on significant issues that face manufacturers/distributors in the year ahead.  Two weeks ago, Matt reported on significant issues in the labor/employment arena.  Last week, Pam reported on Environmental, Health and Safefy (EH&S) issues

To round out the series, I’ll be

Matt set a pretty high bar last week, summarizing his thoughts for what could be a tumultuous 2015 on the labor and employment front.  Now, it’s my turn to provide some thoughts for 2015 the EHS front.  I’m not sure I’d call all of these predictions, since we know that they’re out there – more