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In this first edition of our workplace accident case study podcast series, Karen Tynan and Kevin Bland provide lessons from actual incidents and resulting enforcement actions and lawsuits. Kevin and Karen, both of whom are California shareholders and members of Ogletree’s Workplace Safety and Health Practice Group, discuss a case in which the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) investigated a construction employer after a worker was injured in a nail gun accident.

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In this podcast, Karen Tynan and Kevin Bland, who are leaders in our California Workplace Safety and Health Practice Group, offer a wide-ranging and nuanced discussion of abatement—the act of addressing and curing a hazard identified in a citation. Karen and Kevin offer practical takeaways related to when the duty to abate arises, documentation, and trial considerations, with a focus on the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health’s (Cal/OSHA) approach to abatement. They also cover best practices that may help employers avoid missteps that could lead to significant penalties for failure to abate.

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In this podcast, shareholders Kevin Bland (Orange County) and Karen Tynan (Sacramento) review the latest Cal/OSHA (or Division of Occupational Safety and Health) inspection tactics and provide practical pointers for employers that are subjected to an investigation. Karen, who is the West Coast chair of Ogletree’s Workplace Safety and Health Practice Group, and Kevin discuss inspection triggers, the timing and scope of inspections, walk-throughs, and document requests. Our speakers also review employers’ rights during an inspection, including the right to not disrupt operations, and offer takeaways on real-world scenarios, such as an inspector’s requests for reenactments and demonstrations.

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This episode of our Safety Perspectives From Region 6 podcast is the final installment of a three-part series on fatality and catastrophe investigations conducted by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Frank Davis and John Surma, both of whom are members of Ogletree’s Workplace Safety and Health Practice Group, wrap up the series with a discussion of the importance of having a crisis management or disaster preparedness plan in place. John and Frank review the elements of such plans, including initial response to the incident, the OSHA investigation, internal and external communications, and follow-up actions.

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This episode of our Safety Perspectives From Region 6 podcast is the second in a three-part series on fatality and catastrophe investigations conducted by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). John Surma and Frank Davis explore issues related to attorney-client and work product privilege in the aftermath of a workplace accident, in addition to best practices on written reports and witness statements produced regarding worksite accidents. Our speakers also discuss advantageous ways to prepare root cause reports to avoid difficulties from the perspective of OSH Act compliance, civil litigation, and public relations.

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In this installment of Multistate Monday, our hosts, Dee Anna Hays and Susan Gorey are joined by Mike Mahoney, who chairs Ogletree’s Payroll Tax and Fringe Benefits subgroup, and Melissa Pesce to discuss key issues for employers with remote workers. Mike and Melissa explore the most significant remote workforce issues, including employers’ obligations to withhold income tax and unemployment insurance contributions for remote workers. Our speakers also consider the implications of workers who work remotely on a temporary basis for personal or business reasons and those who have started working remotely from a new jurisdiction without notifying their employers. In addition, Melissa and Mike also consider best practices for remote work policies, issues concerning remote work as a disability accommodation, and the tools employers can use to conduct audits of home offices.

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In this episode of Dirty Steel-Toe Boots, host Phillip Russell is joined by Frank Davis to discuss the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) proposed rule on the worker walkaround representative designation process and whether the walkaround rule supports unionization. Our speakers specifically address whether OSHA has the legal authority to define what “authorized representative” means without referencing the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA)—or whether OSHA’s efforts are preempted by the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Act. Phillip and Frank discuss potential challenges to the walkaround rule, what employers can do during the comment period, what employers can expect given the current political climate (including the upcoming elections and the Supreme Court’s impending Chevron deference case), and the effects of this proposal if the rule survives potential challenges and becomes final.

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In part four of our Form I-9 podcast series, Jessica Cross and Jenny Cofer continue our conversation on the renewed requirements for I-9 document verification, given the policy and procedural shifts in the wake of the pandemic. Our speakers discuss the specific steps employers are required to follow if they qualify for the new alternative procedure outlined in U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’s (USCIS) new policies regarding inspection of documents. Jenny and Jessica also review employer E-Verify enrollment and training requirements to ensure they are in compliance with U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) guidance.

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In part three of our multi-part series on changes to the Form I-9, Tiffany Coburn and Meagan Dziura provide insights into the alternative procedure for remote verification of employment in light of the recent changes in policies instituted by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Specifically, our speakers discuss the threshold requirements for employers to qualify to use this alternative procedure, which can help meet physical examination requirements for Forms I-9 completed remotely under the COVID-19 temporary flexibilities and also permits permanent virtual verification in lieu of physically examining Form I-9 documentation. Meagan and Tiffany also generally discuss E-Verify, what it means to be in good standing with E-Verify, and how to establish a general policy for using the alternative procedure consistently.

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This episode of our Safety Perspectives From Region 6 podcast is the first in a three-part series on fatality and catastrophe investigations conducted by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Frank Davis and John Surma discuss the range of employer considerations regarding preserving and documenting the scene of fatalities and catastrophic events at a worksite. Our speakers specifically discuss preservation letters, the scope of the duty to preserve a scene, and consequences for the failure to preserve.