October 6, 2023

Whistleblower program updates, OIG feedback on warehouse injuries and more

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

OSHA will hold a public meeting later this month to hear ideas for improving customer service and training assistance the agency offers to support federal whistleblower laws. The online meeting will be held on October 24 and will be available in English and Spanish. Those interested in attending must register by October 17.

A recent audit from the Department of Labor Office of Inspector General (OIG) sought to determine how effectively OSHA addressed the high injury and illness rates in warehouses before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Recommendations were made to improve OSHA’s Site-Specific Targeting Program, reporting and recordkeeping compliance, and goals for its National Emphasis Program.

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL)

The DOL issued a fact sheet outlining civil rights protections against discrimination in federally funded programs. These protections apply to grant recipients under programs led by OSHA and the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA). The DOL will issue guidance to agencies on their legal responsibilities under these acts and develop educational materials to inform employees of their rights.

The Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC)

The Worker’s Compensation Research and Evaluation Group (REG) published a report that analyzes pharmacy costs and utilization in an effort to compare data before and after the 2011 introduction of DWC’s pharmacy closed formulary. From 2009 to 2022, both pharmacy costs and the number of prescriptions decreased by 73%. The total number of opioid prescriptions decreased by 86% and the total number of generic prescriptions increased by 21%.

Studies, resources, trends, news