Compliance Solution LLC
What is New?

 

We have added lots of pictures on the website.  Please check them out.

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The Severe Violator Program officially kicked in on June 18.  OSHA's SVEP focuses enforcement efforts on employers who willfully and repeatedly endanger workers by exposing them to serious hazards. The directive establishes procedures and enforcement actions for the severe violator program, including increased inspections, such as mandatory follow-up inspections of a workplace found in violation and inspections of other worksites of the same company where similar hazards or deficiencies may be present.

 http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=DIRECTIVES&p_id=4503

 

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With additional funding and extra compliance officers on board, OSHA is going to implement a new Severe Violator Program and increasing civil penalty amounts.  The new assistant secretary of Labor Dr. David Michaels stated "High penalties and more aggressive, targeted enforcement will provide a greater deterrent and further encourage these employers to furnish safe and healthy workplaces for their employees". 

With the new administration on board, the new OSHA is not going to be mild and gentle as it used to be.  So, please be prepared when the OSHA compliance officer knocks on your office door. 

 

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Under the FY 2011 budget, the US Department of Labor plans to hire more than 350 new employees, including 177 investigators and other enforcement staff.  In the meantime, OSHA received $573 millions for FY 2011, which is $14 million more than agency received in FY 2010. 

In other words, the Labor Department will be properly staffed to protect wages and working conditions of 135 million workers in over 7.3 million workplaces.   Enforcement will be more aggressive than before. 

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With the wide spread of H1N1 virus, it is highly recommended that employers develop a continuous operation plan.  The plan should include:

•  encourage employees with flu-like symptoms to stay home

• Plan for educed staffing

• Work at home option

• Develop a more flexible sick leave policy.  

• Minimize face-to-face meetings, and business travels.

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We have rearranged and added more pictures on our website.  Please check them out.

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With the FY2010 budget for the US Department of Labor, the department is able to hire an additional 1000 new employees, including approximately 670 investigators, and 160 enforcement staff.  The Wage and Hour Division will hire 200 new investigators.  With additional employees, the Department can enforce the regulations much better than before.  For workers, it is a good news.  For employers, it may be a bad news, especially for those careless ones.  

 

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The former OSHA administrator Mr. Edwin Foulke Jr. predicted that OSHA will be more aggressive in enforcement, and rulemaking.  Mr. Foulke was the administrator til November 2008, and he also once chaired the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.  

He is the most qualified person to talk about OSHA.  For employers, please ensure you know what your rights are during an OSHA inspection.  For employees, please know what you can do if you work in a hazardous work site.  

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We did it again.  We have been selected for the 20009 Best of Honolulu Award in the Industrial Hygiene Consultants category.  

WASHINGTON D.C., June 8, 2009 -- Compliance Solution has been selected for the 2009 Best of Honolulu Award in the Industrial Hygiene Consultants category by the U.S. Commerce Association (USCA).

The USCA "Best of Local Business" Award Program recognizes outstanding local businesses throughout the country. Each year, the USCA identifies companies that they believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and community.

Various sources of information were gathered and analyzed to choose the winners in each category. The 2009 USCA Award Program focused on quality, not quantity. Winners are determined based on the information gathered both internally by the USCA and data provided by third parties.

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We have been selected for the 2008 Best of Honolulu Award in the Industrial Hygiene Consultants category.

The U. S. Local Business Association "Best of Local Business" Award Program recognizes outstanding local businesses throughout the country. Each year, the USLBA identifies companies that they believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and community.

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A revised Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Field Operations Manual now provides OSHA Compliance Officers with a single source of updated information and guidance to more effectively protect employees from occupational injuries, illnesses, and fatalities.

The Field Operations Manual is the guiding document for OSHA's Compliance Officers, whose mission is to assure the safety and health of America's working men and women. The manual assists Compliance Officers in scheduling and conducting inspections, enforcing regulations, and encouraging continual improvement in workplace safety and health. The manual also guides Compliance Officers on how to inform employers about cooperative programs—such as On-Site Consultation, Strategic Partnerships, and the Voluntary Protection Program—to help them eliminate potential or existing hazards from the workplace.

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The Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division published a Final Rule under the Family and Medical Leave Act. The final rule became effective on January 16, 2009, and updates the FMLA regulations to implement new military family leave entitlements enacted under the National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2008. It also includes revisions in response to public comments received on the proposed rule issued in February 2008. The Federal Register Notice and related documents are available at Wage and Hour's FMLA Final Rule website.  A revised poster is here.  Please post it where your employees can see.  

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