Partners Alana Genderson, Heather MacDougall, and John Ring are quoted by HR Magazine discussing the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA’s) final “walkaround rule,” which employers are scheduled to comply with on May 31.
Heather noted that the rule gives OSHA inspectors the authority to allow union representatives, community activists, or another third party join them during an onsite inspection, while Alana said employers should expect organized labor to apply the rule in new and creative ways to try to access previously closed jobsites.
John noted that the OSHA inspector will determine how competing unions might be selected as representatives. “If this situation arises, employers should be prepared to explain to the inspector why multiple nonemployee representatives would hinder the inspection,” John said.