United States: Health & Safety

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Employment law and labour law articles and thought leadership, podcasts, videos and webinars from expert sources across the legal world. Explore articles covering topics such as Discrimination, Employee Benefits and Compensation, Health and Safety, Unfair/Wrongful Dismissal, Whistleblowing, Employment Rights, Outsourcing and Redundancy.
Article
FAA Proposes Rule To Preempt State Meal And Rest Break Laws For In-Flight Crews
The Federal Aviation Administration has proposed a rule that would prevent state and local meal and rest break laws from applying to pilots and flight attendants during duty periods, asserting that federal aviation safety regulations must take precedence. This regulatory action directly responds to recent court decisions applying California's break requirements to in-flight crews, raising questions about the balance between worker protections and aviation safety imperatives.
United States Employment
GT
Greenberg Traurig, LLP
Article
Louisiana’s Behind The Counter Protection Act Expands Workplace Violence Protections
Louisiana's Behind the Counter Protection Act, effective August 1, 2026, strengthens criminal penalties for workplace violence against retail, restaurant, and customer-facing employees. While the law doesn't mandate new compliance programs, businesses should understand how enhanced penalties for assault and battery apply to their workforce and consider integrating these protections into existing safety practices.
United States Employment
BS
Butler Snow LLP
Article
When 'Direct Threat' Beats A Disability Accommodation Claim: Lessons From The Eighth Circuit
The Eighth Circuit's recent decision in Christensen v. Union Pacific Railroad Co. provides crucial guidance on when employers can invoke the ADA's direct threat defense to deny accommodation requests. This case demonstrates how employers in safety-sensitive industries can successfully defend their decisions by following proper medical evaluation procedures and relying on current medical knowledge to assess workplace safety risks.
United States Employment
BT
Barnes & Thornburg LLP
Article
EPA Extends Certain Compliance Dates For PCE And CTC Risk Management Rules
The EPA has extended compliance deadlines for workplace chemical protection requirements under risk management rules for perchloroethylene (PCE) and carbon tetrachloride (CTC), pushing key dates into 2027 while the agency continues its substantive reconsideration of these controversial regulations. As legal challenges remain paused and stakeholders await proposed rule updates expected in 2026, questions persist about whether the existing chemical exposure limits will withstand scientific scrutiny under TSCA
United States Environment
BC
Bergeson & Campbell
Article
New York City Executive Order Signals Forthcoming Heat Illness Requirements For Employers
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has signed Executive Order No. 17, directing city agencies to develop heat illness prevention guidance and evaluate workplace protections for workers exposed to extreme temperatures. While the order doesn't immediately impose new private-sector requirements, it signals the city's intent to strengthen heat safety regulations, particularly for construction, delivery, and warehouse workers, and requires agencies to create prevention plans for municipal employees and contracto
United States Employment
SS
Seyfarth Shaw LLP
Article
EPA Issues Final SNUR For Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes (P-22-163)
The EPA has issued a final significant new use rule for multi-walled carbon nanotubes, establishing strict workplace protections, hazard communication requirements, and usage restrictions for battery manufacturing applications. Companies planning to manufacture or process these nanomaterials must notify the EPA at least 90 days before commencing activities and await regulatory review and approval.
United States Environment
BC
Bergeson & Campbell
Article
OSHA Recordkeeping Win For Employers: Fifth Circuit Rejects Requirement To Log Mental Health Conditions
A federal appeals court has ruled that OSHA overstepped its authority by mandating employers record mental health conditions like PTSD on workplace injury logs. The decision arose from a case involving a refinery worker diagnosed with PTSD after responding to a catastrophic explosion, raising fundamental questions about the scope of workplace safety recordkeeping requirements.
United States Employment
JW
Jones Walker
Article
Stop, Notify, Document: The Contractor’s First Response to Structural Distress
When structural distress appears on a construction site—visible cracking, movement, deflection, or similar unsafe conditions—contractors face critical decisions that carry both safety and legal implications. What is the proper protocol for responding to structural failures, and how can contractors protect themselves while ensuring worker safety and preserving their legal rights? This analysis examines the essential steps contractors must take when confronting potential structural issues, from im
United States Real Estate
Aa
Adams and Reese
Article
NRC Proposes Removing ALARA From Radiation Protection Rules
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission has proposed eliminating its "As Low As Reasonably Achievable" (ALARA) standard from radiation protection regulations, marking a significant shift in the agency's regulatory framework. The proposal would rely instead on established dose limits while introducing new compliance flexibilities, including expanded dosimetry options and streamlined processes for planned worker exposures. This change could have broad implications for NRC licensees, Agreement State regulators,
United States Government
GT
Greenberg Traurig, LLP
Article
EPA Seeks Information To Develop TSCA Regulation For Legacy Uses And Associated Disposals Of Asbestos
The EPA has announced plans to develop comprehensive TSCA regulations for legacy asbestos uses, seeking real-world data from workers, building owners, and communities about exposure risks during renovation and demolition activities. With a proposed rule deadline of June 2027, the agency aims to strengthen protections where people are actually exposed, though advocacy groups are already challenging the extended timeline.
United States Environment
BC
Bergeson & Campbell
Article
FIFA World Cup Poses Opportunity For Labor Unions To Advance Contract Negotiations And Pressure Hospitality Industry
As the 2026 FIFA World Cup brings unprecedented tourism to eleven U.S. host cities, hospitality workers face mounting pressures from severe staffing shortages, increased workloads, and heightened vulnerability to wage violations including illegal tip pooling and rest break infractions. Labor unions across multiple cities are leveraging this high-stakes moment to push for stronger workplace protections, fair wages, and improved benefits, with several locations threatening strikes if contract negotiations fai
United States Employment
MS
Miller Shah
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