Under the federal Occupational Safety and Health Act, all employers are required to provide a safe and healthy working environment for its employees. Ford & Harrison's Workplace Safety & Health Practice Group provides a variety of companies and industries with a full range of comprehensive workplace and occupational environmental, safety and health services to ensure compliance with this obligation. These include:

Inspections, Investigations, Citations and Hearings Before Administrative Agencies

• Preparing management and supervisory personnel in anticipation of, and during, inspections and investigations by OSHA, MSHA and other Department of Labor (federal and state) divisions.
• Representing management and supervisory personnel during interviews with government agents/officials.
• Representing employers in all aspects of defense against whistle-blower claims, workplace fatalities, accidents, catastrophes, chemical spills and toxic tort claims.
• Handling all aspects of client representation associated with inspections, investigations, citations and hearings before the Department of Labor (federal and state) and its divisions, including, OSHA and MSHA.

Press Releases and Responses to Requests for Information Related to Inspections, Investigations, Litigation and Workplace Catastrophes/Fatalities

• Preparing press releases regarding the status of inspections, investigations, and litigation or workplace catastrophes/fatalities.
• Responding to requests for information and documents (Material Safety Data Sheets, exposure records, medical information, accident reports, investigative reports) from attorneys/ representatives of employees or the estate of deceased employees.
• Assisting with federal and state compliance requirements with regard to production of documents and information to third parties.

Workplace Environmental Testing and Monitoring

• Overseeing workplace environmental testing for asbestos, silica, mold, and other airborne contaminants/ potentially toxic substances.
• Evaluation for process safety management (ammonia) compliance.
• Assisting in responding to workplace complaints of occupational exposure to contaminants.

Workplace Safety Audits, Process Evaluation and OSHA Compliance

• Conducting on-site safety and health audits for compliance with federal and state occupational safety and health requirements.
• Conducting workplace hazard assessments.
• Creation and implementation of workplace safety programs and policies, training, and enforcement processes.
• Ensuring compliance with OSHA standards on hazardous materials, exposure and handling.
• Review compliance under federal and state record-keeping regulations.
• Evaluation of training and personal protective equipment for compliance with applicable federal and state requirements.
• Review of employee handbooks and procedures.

Management/Supervisor Training

• Custom training on all aspects of workplace safety and health compliance issues for corporate safety department, management, supervisors, foreman, team leaders and human resources professionals.
• Creation of written training materials and PowerPoint presentations that may be used in-house by employers in training personnel.