Benita Mehta

Editorial

Biden urges voluntary compliance as agency extends comments period for two initiatives

December 23, 2021

President Joe Biden asked businesses to voluntarily move forward with the administration’s Covid-19 vaccine and testing requirements.

Editorial

OSHA seeks public input to gather diverse perspectives and expertise

Benita Mehta

November 1, 2021

Together with a Biden-Harris administration interagency effort, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration published an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for Heat Injury and Illness Prevention in Outdoor and Indoor Work Settings on Oct. 27, 2021.

OSHA begins heat safety initiative, plans to hire compliance officers

Benita Mehta

October 20, 2021

OSHA is implementing an enforcement initiative on heat-related hazards, developing a National Emphasis Program on heat inspections, and launching a rulemaking process to develop a workplace heat standard.

ASSP Safety2021: An OSHA update with Jim Frederick

Benita Mehta

September 15, 2021

On the last day of ASSP’s in-person show in Austin, Jim Frederick, Acting Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health, spoke to attendees on COVID-19 and OSHA’s current priorities.

Cover Story

Now that Pfizer vaccine has FDA approval, expect more companies to begin implementing workplace rules

Benita Mehta

September 1, 2021

With full federal approval for the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine for those 16 and older, corporate employers, the military, hospitals and other workplaces have begun announcing vaccine mandates.

Editorial Comments

Heat exposure has killed hundreds of U.S. workers — it’s time to do something about it

Benita Mehta

September 1, 2021

As brutal heat continues this summer, a report published in August by the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) says outdoor workers in the United States could face four times as many days with hazardous heat by mid-century if action isn't taken to reduce greenhouse gas pollution.

Some experts recommend upgrading to N95 masks to help fight the Delta variant

Benita Mehta

July 29, 2021

As the CDC has recommended all Americans, regardless of coronavirus vaccination status, return to wearing face coverings in indoor public places to help thwart the spread of the highly contagious delta variant, the mask debate is in the spotlight once again. But some experts say the recommendations should specify the kind of masks people should be using.

Editorial Comments

A sense of normalcy

With in-person shows returning this year, will you attend?

Benita Mehta

June 30, 2021

With the announcement last week that ASSP has opened up registration for their conference in Austin this September, they announced the safety precautions they are taking to ensure everyone who is attending is comfortable.

Editorial Comments

50 years of OSHA

Agency hits landmark amidst many changes, unprecedented times

Benita Mehta

May 13, 2021

On December 29, 1970, President Nixon signed the Occupational Safety and Health Act, which was enacted on April 28, 1971. Here’s a brief overview of OSHA through the years as well as what the agency is currently facing.