January 16, 2025 | OSHA.gov | Occupational Safety and Health Administration

January 16, 2025 • OSHA's twice-monthly newsletter about workplace safety and health.

OSHA QuickTakes - OSHA, Occupational Safety and Health Administration

Submit Your 2024 Injury and Illness Data

Employers that meet certain size and industry criteria must provide 2024 injury and illness data to OSHA by March 2. For more information on reporting requirements, click here.

Penalty Increases

On January 15, OSHA civil penalties increased based on 2025 cost-of-living adjustments.

New Leadership Announced

Scott Ketcham is OSHA's new Deputy Assistant Secretary. Previously, Ketcham led the agency's Directorates of Enforcement and Construction.

Know the Facts About Bird Flu

Learn about avian influenza (bird flu) risks, transmission and symptoms, and proper use of personal protective equipment with OSHA's resources.

Promoting a Workplace Culture of Safety

OSHA Assistant Secretary Doug Parker was honored with the VPPPA Chair's Award of Excellence for his leadership and support of OSHA's Voluntary Protection Programs, and all his work to advance health and safety excellence.

Their Side of the Story: A Whistleblower

"My manager fired me after I refused to improperly dispose of mercury. OSHA found that my employer violated the Toxic Substances Control Act."

Explore 50 years of protecting whistleblowers from retaliation.
If you had actions taken against you for speaking up, file a complaint.

Advisory Committees

OSHA announced four new appointments to its 12-member National Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety and Health.

Stopping Human Trafficking

January is Human Trafficking Prevention Month. Learn to identify signs of forced labor and other forms of human trafficking and how you can help prevent these crimes.

Protecting Workers from Exploitation

Watch our video to learn how U and T visas can protect vulnerable workers who face serious workplace abuses, human trafficking, or other crimes.

Sharing Data with Employees

Employers must post their 2024 Summary of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses (Form 300A) in their workplace from February 1 through April 30, in a location where employees can see it.

Criminal Conviction

The owner of a Massachusetts construction company was sentenced to 18 months in prison for tax crimes and making false statements to OSHA inspectors about a workplace fatality.

Willful Disregard for Workers' Lives

A contractor with an extensive history of exposing employees to fall hazards let roofers work on a residential structure without required fall protections.

Needless Trenching Tragedy

A worker lost their life in a trench collapse due to a contractor ignoring safety warnings and their own safety plan.

Fatal Failure to Train

A contractor's failure to provide required training and safety equipment led to a worker's drowning in a retention pond.

Read about more OSHA enforcement cases.

Certified for Safety

Through the National Safety Education Center, the Chicago Transit Authority recently completed the only OSHA-approved certificate program that provides comprehensive training to reduce workplace incident rates and improve safety practices.

Teamwork Eliminates Injuries

An Alabama electronic products manufacturer has not had a recordable injury in more than 10 years, thanks to a company-wide commitment to a robust safety and health program.

Building Safer Workplaces

Panasonic Energy and OSHA are partnering to protect workers during the construction of an electric vehicle battery facility in De Soto, Kansas.

Useful Resources

Safety in Semiconductor Manufacturing Fact Sheet (English)
Revised Whistleblower Protection Fact Sheet (English and Spanish)
Protecting Personally Identifiable Information Fact Sheet (English and Spanish)
Workplace Violence Fact Sheet (English and Spanish)

Making a Difference

Meet Kristina, a regional supervisory investigator who appreciates helping populations that are unaware of their rights or afraid to act on them. Visit I Am OSHA and meet more members of our team.