U.S. Department of Labor safety investigators are alleging that an engineering and construction company exposed workers to safety hazards after an investigation into a 2025 worker death at a plant in White, Georgia, according to a statement released Thursday.

OSHA issued a citation to Hyoungwon E&C America Inc. alleging a serious violation under the Occupational Safety and Health Act’s general duty clause for failing to protect employees against asphyxiation hazards related to nitrogen gas and another serious violation for failing to provide “effective” information and training on hazards related to nitrogen gas and oxygen-deficient atmospheres.

The employer faces $20,522 in proposed penalties and has 15 business days from receipt of their citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA, or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

Two produce industry trade groups in Texas have filed a lawsuit claiming the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration's legal authority to adopt rules regulating workplace safety is unconstitutional, in the latest court challenge to a federal agency's long-held enforcement powers.
The lawsuit filed Wednesday in Amarillo, Texas federal court alleges that Congress improperly handed over its legislative powers to OSHA, which is part of the Department of Labor, when it created the agency over 50 years ago and allowed it to adopt any standards it deems "reasonably necessary and appropriate."

On November 26, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued a request for public comment on its alliance program (90 Fed. Reg. 54399).

Through its alliance program, OSHA forms voluntary cooperative relationships with industry, labor, and other groups to improve workplace safety and health; prevent workplace fatalities, injuries, and illnesses; and reach employers and workers the agency may not otherwise reach through traditional methods. The agency collects information from organizations that are parties to an alliance agreement through meetings, informal conversations. and data forms. It then uses the collected information to develop alliance agreements, support alliance activities and agreement objectives, and develop annual and program-wide reports.

The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sets workplace safety and health regulations under the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Act of 1970. It also conducts workplace inspections in most states where it enforces its standards.

However, 21 states and Puerto Rico have OSHA-approved state programs covering private sector employment, as well as state and local government employees. In those 22 jurisdictions, facilities and worksites aren’t inspected by federal OSHA compliance safety and health officers (CSHOs) but rather by state and territorial personnel. While 1,204 federal OSHA employees were furloughed during the recent government shutdown, inspectors in those 21 states and Puerto Rico remained on the job.

Comments are due December 26.

For over a century, federal workplace safety laws have alarmingly exposed countless workers to hazardous chemical levels now recognized by modern toxicology as human carcinogens. This is because ethylene oxide (EtO)—a combustible and colorless gas integral to sterilizing medical devices and manufacturing pharmaceuticals, as well as many other products—remains governed by outdated exposure standards that do not accurately reflect its current elevated risks. Tragically, that troubling gap between the scientific understanding of this compound and existing rules for its use has subjected workforces to grave danger. Until the country’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) immediately implements a new regulatory framework, employees whose jobs require them to handle this substance will continue to face daily hazards. The need for this comprehensive reform has become much more urgent and undeniable. It is time to take decisive action to safeguard these vulnerable workers and truly secure their safety and well-being.

The Nevada Division of Industrial Relations and Nevada OSHA have updated their heat illness dashboard to include data on the state’s newly implemented heat rule.

In effect since April 29, the regulation is aimed at protecting indoor and outdoor workers from excessive heat. The new data provides insights into awareness and enforcement of the regulation. That includes data on complaints, inspections, citations, penalties and workers’ compensation.

Several industry groups weighed in with their concerns about the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) proposed heat injury and illness prevention standard as the agency’s comment period closed last week.

This past summer, OSHA held an informal public hearing on its proposal, which concluded on July 2, and it opened a post-hearing comment period that was extended to October 30. In comments submitted after the informal hearing, many industry groups called for a flexible or performance-based approach that takes into account regional differences among facilities and worksites.

The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) told OSHA that manufacturers need a performance-oriented approach to heat illness and injury prevention. NAM pointed out the geographical differences among manufacturing facilities, suggesting the agency consider regional differences when determining heat triggers. It also asked that OSHA allow employers to determine the ratio of employees to heat safety coordinators, advising against a “one-size-fits-all” approach.

A legal battle between the Yuba County Sheriff’s Office and California’s workplace safety agency has called into question the latter’s authority to investigate law enforcement, including potential workplace safety violations related to an officer’s death. The dispute stems from the death of Marysville Police Officer Osmar Rodarte, who was killed in the line of duty in March during a multi-agency operation. The California Division of Occupational Safety subsequently opened an investigation into the incident, which local law enforcement agencies have pushed back against and resisted cooperation, prompting six-figure fines and a legal standoff.

Construction remains one of the most hazardous industries in the U.S., and OSHA’s new 2025 regulations raise the bar for compliance. With the industry still accounting for more than one in five workplace deaths, safety is no longer a back-office task — it’s a core business function.

OSHA’s recent updates reflect a shift toward prevention and real-time verification. Inspectors are now prioritizing proactive documentation and continuous monitoring through wearable tech and smart helmets. Falls, still the leading cause of construction fatalities, are regulated at lower heights, and new heat illness prevention programs are required in hot climates. Crews must also complete documented hazard analyses before beginning high-risk work such as excavation or steel erection.