From category archives: ABC Academy & GA Articles

OFCCP, Paycheck Fairness, FLSA, Independant Contractors

OSHA Issues New Employer Recordkeeping Proposal

OSHA July 29 issued a proposed rule clarifying an employer’s continuing obligation to make and maintain accurate records of reportable injuries and illnesses.
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Labor Department Issues New Guidance Targeting Worker Misclassification

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) released new guidance July 15 related to employers’ use of independent contractors. In the Administrator’s Interpretation and an accompanying blog post, Wage and Hour Division Administrator Dr. David Weil laments the “problematic trend” of deliberate misclassification, and considers the guidance part of a “multi-pronged approach” to combat the phenomenon.
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OSHA’s Confined Spaces in Construction Rule in Full Effect

Employers can now be cited for not complying with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) confined spaces in construction final rule. A temporary enforcement policy of not issuing citations--provided employers made good-faith efforts to comply--expired on Oct. 2. 
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OSHA Releases Guide on Safety and Health Training For Workers

OSHA Aug. 4 released a guide titled, “Training Requirements in OSHA Standards,” that compiles information related to the agency’s mandatory safety and health training for workers into a 266-page document that is divided into five chapters, including one focused on construction safety training.
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Spring 2015 OSHA Regulatory Agenda

The latest OSHA regulatory agenda was released on May 21 and lists the priorities of the administration and the rulemakings they expect to release this year regarding rules on silica exposure, recordkeeping and more. Read the rest of entry »

‘Waters of the U.S.’ Rule Issued

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) issued the final Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule May 27. The final rule will go into effect 60 days after it is published in the Federal Register (rule has not been published). Read the rest of entry »

Indiana Eliminates Prevailing Wage Law

Gov. Mike Pence (R-Ind.) signed the ABC-led repeal of common construction wage into law May 6, eliminating prevailing wage requirements for publicly-funded construction projects in Indiana effective July 1. The ABC Indiana/Kentucky chapter played a significant role in ensuring the state understood the negative effects the legislation has on taxpayers, helping to make Indiana the 19th state with no prevailing wage requirements on taxpayer-funded construction.
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New Version of OSHA’s Required Job Safety Poster Now Available

OSHA released its latest version of their Job Safety and Health—It's The Law! poster April 29 which employers must display if covered by the OSH Act or be subjected to citations or penalties if they fail to do so. Employers do not need to replace previous versions of the poster. The poster is free and can be downloaded on OSHA's website. Read the rest of entry »

Final Rule Issued on Confined Spaces in Construction

OSHA issued a final rule for confined spaces in construction on May 4, which mirrors the general industry standard but adds certain provisions tailored specifically to the construction industry including an emphasis on training, monitoring and evaluating, as well as communication on multi-employer sites. The rule is set to go into effect August 3.
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OFCCP Announces New Veterans Hiring Benchmark

The Department of Labor's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) updated its Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA) Benchmark Database April 21 to reflect a new 7 percent annual national benchmark for federal contractor hiring of protected veterans, down from the previous 7.2 percent.
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