Planet Volumes/Unsplash On March 11, 2024, the Department of Labor’s (DOL) Wage and Hour Division’s (WHD) final rule for determining whether a worker is an employee or independent contractor became effective. The final rule rescinds DOL’s 2021 regulation that was [...]

Map of OSHA regions. Courtesy of OSHA.gov. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) utilizes various strategies to mitigate workplace hazards and ensure compliance with safety standards. One approach is the implementation of Regional Emphasis Programs (REPs). REPs are primarily [...]

Photo by Louis Velazquez/Unsplash. On December 6, 2023, the Biden administration released its Fall 2023 Unified Agenda of Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions, providing a detailed glimpse into the initiatives under development across approximately 67 federal departments, agencies and commissions. These [...]

TCIA staff and TCIA members have taken part in a number of crane demonstrations for OSHA to help educate inspectors about arborist practices. TCIA staff photo. On November 13, 2023, the Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA) and 73 other organizations [...]

Taking a break in the heat. The Heat Injury and Illness rule is aimed at making sure workers are protected when working in the heat. Photo courtesy of TCIA’s “Arborist First Responder Field Guide.” On November 3, 2023, the Small [...]