LABOR & EMPLOYMENT
Clarification of Employer’s Continuing Obligation to Make and Maintain an Accurate Record of Each Recordable Injury and Illness
Under the Congressional Review Act, Congress has passed, and the President has signed, Public Law 115-21, a resolution of disapproval of OSHA’s final rule titled, “Clarification of Employer’s Continuing Obligation to Make and Maintain an Accurate Record of each Recordable Injury and Illness.” OSHA published the rule, which contained various amendments to OSHA’s recordkeeping regulations, on December 19, 2016. The amendments became effective on January 18, 2017. Because Public Law 115-21 invalidates the amendments to OSHA’s recordkeeping regulations in the rule, OSHA is hereby removing those amendments from the Code of Federal Regulations. This final rule becomes effective on May 3, 2017. 82 Fed. Reg. 20548.
“House Passes Whistleblower Protection Act Clarification Bill.” Federal Times, May 3, 2017. Retrieved from http://www.federaltimes.com.
The Follow the Rules Act — introduced by Reps. Sean Duffy, R-Wis., and Gerry Connolly, D-Va. — adds a clarification to the Whistleblower Protection Act spurred by a misinterpretation by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in the case of Rainey v. MSPB. The bill, HR 657, is intended to protect employees rooting out mismanagement, abuse, and corruption, even if it means disobeying the orders of superiors. You can view the amended bill here.