The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) released its regulatory agenda, which includes updates on several proposals and rulemakings slated to be proposed in 2020. 

OSHA anticipates issuing a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) for its Walking Working Surfaces Rule in April 2020 to correct a formatting error and revise language for stair rail systems. In addition, the agency is slated to release a NPRM for Blood Lead Level for Medical Removal in September 2020.  AFS plans to comment on both proposals.

Other upcoming rules of interest to metalcasters are still in the early stages of development; in many cases, OSHA is still gathering background information. These future revisions would affect the following areas:

• Mechanical power presses update.
• Powered industrial trucks.
• Lockout/tagout update.

To read the full agenda, visit the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) website: bit.ly/2rhBZvv.

Click here to see this story as it appears in the December 2019 issue of Modern Casting.

D.C. UPDATE
OSHA Releases 2018 Injury and Illness Data
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) recently released its annual Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses data for 2018.

The BLS calculated there were about 2.81 million work-related injuries or illnesses nationwide, a figure essentially unchanged from 2017. For the first time, BLS data included national estimates for emergency room and hospital visits for injuries and illnesses requiring Days Away from Work. 333,380 (37%) required a worker to visit a medical facility, with 294,750 including a trip to an ER but no hospitalization.

OSHA will likely use this BLS data to set its enforcement priorities in the near future. Metalcasters should undertake a comprehensive review of their employee safety training and workplace safety programs.  n addition, consider joining AFS’ Safety and Health Committee, which meets quarterly and provides a wealth of information on best practices, updates on new and pending OSHA regulations, as well as webinars, seminars, conferences and articles.

Modern Casting will provide a full report on the metalcasting industry statistics in January.    

Labor Department Issues Fluctuating Workweek Proposal    
On November 5, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division issued a notice of proposed rulemaking that would give employers more flexibility in calculating overtime pay for non-exempt salaried workers whose hours fluctuate from week to week. 

Additionally, the proposal clarifies that bonus and premium payments on top of fixed salaries are compatible with the fluctuating workweek method of compensation, and supplemental payments must be included when calculating the regular rate of pay as appropriate under the Fair Labor Standards Act.