Tax season looms for heavy vehicle use tax

Hazardous materials

The term hazardous material is defined by the Department of Transportation. It refers to any substance or material that poses an unreasonable risk to health, safety, and property during transportation. Hazardous materials include hazardous substances, hazardous wastes, marine pollutants, and elevated-temperature materials. Essentially, if it’s dangerous and transported, it’s considered a hazardous material.

Hazardous waste

On the other hand, hazardous waste is defined by the Environmental Protection Agency. It refers to contaminated chemicals or by-products that no longer serve their purpose and need to be disposed of. Hazardous wastes are either listed or exhibit characteristics like ignitability, corrosivity, toxicity, or reactivity. It’s essentially waste that poses a danger to health or the environment and requires special handling and disposal.

To put it simply, hazardous material is a broad term that includes various dangerous substances during transportation, while hazardous waste specifically refers to dangerous by-products that need disposal. Understanding these terms is crucial for compliance with environmental and safety regulations.

If you ever find yourself unsure, remember that hazardous materials are about transportation risks, and hazardous wastes are about disposal risks.

What does the standard require?

The OSHA First Aid standard (29 CFR 1910.151) requires trained first aid providers at all workplaces of any size if there is no “infirmary, clinic, or hospital in near proximity to the workplace which is used for the treatment of all injured employees.”

In addition to first aid requirements, several OSHA standards also require training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) because sudden cardiac arrest from asphyxiation, electrocution, or exertion may occur. These standards include permit-required confined spaces; logging; diving; and electrical power generation, transmission, and distribution.

First aid trained or first responder?

OSHA requires prompt first aid treatment for injured employees, either by providing for the availability of a trained first aid provider at the worksite, or by ensuring that emergency services are within reasonable proximity of the worksite. Whether the first aid provider is a first responder or is first aid trained is up to you and your risk assessment.

Employees considered first aid trained can provide initial treatment to an injured person until more qualified personnel arrive. First aid trained individuals can triage injuries, control the scene to keep others safe, and call for emergency services when needed. Not all first aid trained employees will feel comfortable performing CPR, using an automated external defibrillator (AED), or splinting a broken bone, however.

First responders, though similar in their role, typically have a higher degree of training than first aid trained individuals. Generally speaking, first responders are those that beat the ambulance to the scene such as firefighters or police officers. These responders can perform rescue services or escalate emergency care as needed, such as performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) or controlling severe bleeding.

Who is more vital for handling an emergency at your facility? Both! First aid trained employees have process and facility training that first responders may not. For example, they may be more familiar with chemicals on site or process operations. Therefore, they can navigate facilities to reach injured employees quicker to begin initial treatment. First responders, on the other hand, will have a higher level of training for first aid treatment of more complicated injuries.

What’s considered “near proximity”?

OSHA clarifies in a letter of interpretation (LOI) from March 23, 2007, that, “While the first aid standards do not prescribe a number of minutes, OSHA has long interpreted the term ’near proximity’ to mean that emergency care must be available within no more than 3-4 minutes from the workplace. Medical literature establishes that, for serious injuries such as those involving stopped breathing, cardiac arrest, or uncontrolled bleeding, first aid treatment must be provided within the first few minutes to avoid permanent medical impairment or death. Accordingly, in workplaces where serious accidents such as those involving falls, suffocation, electrocution, or amputation are possible, emergency medical services must be available within 3-4 minutes, if there is no employee on the site who is trained to render first aid.”

Regarding work areas, such as offices, where the possibility of such serious work-related injuries is less likely, a longer response time of up to 15 minutes may be reasonable. OSHA gives employers discretion in determining higher risk areas that may need sooner response times.

Employers choosing to rely on assistance from outside emergency responders as an alternative to providing trained responders must ascertain that emergency medical assistance will be promptly available when an injury occurs.

Training requirements

OSHA doesn’t offer first aid or CPR training, nor certify trainers. Training by a nationally recognized organization, such as the American Heart Association or the American Red Cross is recommended. Successful completion of any first aid training program should include instructor observation of acquired hands-on skills and written performance assessments.

Keys to remember

OSHA 1910.151 requires employers to ensure prompt first aid treatment for injured employees, either by providing for the availability of a trained first aid provider at the worksite, or by ensuring that emergency services are within reasonable proximity of the worksite. Employers should consider the workplace, hazards, workforce, and location when determining whether to have first aid trained employees or first responders for medical aid.

What are PFAS?

PFAS, called “forever chemicals,” are long-lasting manufactured chemicals that may pose risks to human and environmental health. With thousands of PFAS chemicals, however, controlling their use to reduce the risks is no easy task.

Additionally, PFAS appear in nearly every sector. They’re used in a wide range of products (like food packaging, cleaning products, and textiles) and for commercial and industrial applications.

Current state PFAS actions

Multiple states already have PFAS rules on the books. Check out these examples:

• California bans selling or distributing in commerce any new juvenile product that contains regulated PFAS chemicals (CA HSC Section 108946), such as changing pads, motor vehicle child restraint systems, playpens, and strollers.
• Colorado requires manufacturers of cookware with intentionally added PFAS in the handle or any product surface that contacts food to, among other things, list the presence of PFAS on the product label (House Bill 22-1345).
• Hawaii prohibits manufacturing, selling, offering for sale, and distributing for sale or use food packaging — wraps, liners, plates, food boats, and pizza boxes — with intentionally added PFAS (Act 152 Relating to environmental protection).
• Maryland bans manufacturing, selling, and delivering cosmetic products that contain any of 13 specified PFAS (Md. Code, Health-Gen. Section 21-259.2).
• New York forbids selling or offering for sale new apparel with intentionally added PFAS (N.Y. Consolidated Laws Section 37-0121).

Many states also have proposed PFAS rules under consideration.

Stay alert to state PFAS actions

If your facility uses PFAS, it’s essential to know whether the state has regulations that apply to your operations. Plus, knowing the state’s potential future PFAS rules coming down the pipeline can help you better prepare to comply.

Consider these general tips to support your facility’s efforts to track state PFAS actions:

• EPA provides an online list of the state environmental agencies with links to their websites. Check the state environmental agency’s online news and press releases for policy updates.
• Search for a dedicated rulemaking webpage, as many states maintain a list of proposed and recently adopted regulations. Note that some state sites may be easier to navigate than others, and some state sites may not have a dedicated rulemaking webpage.
• Establish a contact at the state environmental agency. Each agency should list contact information, so don’t hesitate to reach out. You may be able to find someone at the agency who can answer questions about the state’s current and future PFAS rules.

Staying alert to state PFAS regulations can help your organization maintain compliance.

Key to remember: States across the country continue to consider and implement regulations related to PFAS. Staying alert to state PFAS actions is key for businesses to stay compliant.

Proposed legislation

Bipartisan legislation has recently been introduced in the House that would require businesses to provide restroom access to truckers who are loading or delivering cargo at their warehouses, manufacturers, distribution centers, retailers, and ports.

Supported by leading organizations in the trucking industry, the Trucker Bathroom Access Act (H.R. 9592) was introduced on Dec. 15, 2022. The bill requires retailers, warehouses, and other establishments with existing restrooms to provide access to drivers who are loading or delivering cargo. Additionally, operators of ports and marine terminals must provide access for drayage and parking while accessing such restrooms.

This amendment to Title 49 would exempt some employers from the bill including filling and service stations, and restaurants 800-square feet or smaller with restrooms intended for employee use only. The bill doesn’t require employers to construct new restrooms but to give truck drivers the same access as employees or customers.

Your restroom availability affects their health

Commercial truckers and delivery drivers are the lifeline of our supply chain of supplies, products, and consumables. Working tirelessly all hours, during holidays and weekends, and throughout the pandemic, they continue to deliver critical food and emergency supplies to companies everywhere. Employers have the privilege of demonstrating gratitude to truckers and delivery drivers with a positive work environment.

The benefits of allowing truckers and delivery drivers the convenience and safety of readily available, sanitary restroom facilities are plenty. They’re able to rest and reset when necessary, which keeps them and others safer on the roads. Equally important, restroom availability prevents drivers from having to search for available facilities elsewhere, allowing them to keep a timely delivery schedule, limit supply chain delays, and ultimately lower costs for employers and customers.

Keys to remember

The proposed Trucker Bathroom Access Act will require retailers, warehouses, and other establishments with existing restrooms to provide access to truckers and delivery drivers who are loading or delivering cargo. Access to restrooms keeps them refreshed and ready to deliver essential supplies to companies across the country.

Tell-tale signs of phishing

This recent email uses an email address that implies it’s related to FMCSA, which it is not.

And the email’s subject line is meant to draw you in by stating, “Immediate Action Required: Submit Documents for FMCSA Compliance.”

Ironically, this fraudulent email is using cybersecurity to gain the confidence of the reader. The email tells the carrier that specific information is needed to ensure compliance and protect their information from potential fraud. They are instructed to reply with the following sensitive corporate information:

• Certificate of Insurance
• IRS-issued EIN Verification Letter
• Certificate of Organization
• Clear copies of your driver’s license (front and back)

The phishing expedition tries to illicit yet another emotional response from the recipient; the email cites 385.337(b) implying there is a safety audit within two business days and threatens penalties and fines for those who fail to respond with the sensitive information.

Suggested cybersecurity practices

Some phishing emails are obviously a scam and immediately deleted by recipients. Others are clever and require receivers to be alert to the subtleties.

Use the following characteristics of a phishing email to help identify those that show up in your in-box:

• A sense of urgency to respond,
• An unsolicited email appearing to come from a party you know,
• A negative consequence if you don’t respond,
• Poor grammar and spelling errors,
• Request for personal information,
• Odd payment requests,
• Suspicious links that resemble legitimate URLs with small changes, and
• Suspicious attachments.

If you receive an email with phishing attributes:

• Don’t click on any links or open any attachments. Hover over suspicious links to see the real email address or URL.
• Contact the person, business, or agency for confirmation using a known phone number or email address. Don’t reply to the fake email address or call the number provided in the email.

These same concepts apply to suspicious text messages on your phone. Many cell users rely on text alerts from their services (e.g., banks, vendors). Smishing, or SMS phishing, uses the everyday usage of text alerts to catch individuals off guard. Smishing attempts:

• Direct individuals to a website or phone number,
• Prompt users to download malware, and
• Nudge the user to act with a sense of urgency (just like the other methods of fraud).

Preventing and reporting scams

This phishing email is not the first, and probably not the last, fraudulent attempt to gain information from motor carriers.

It has happened so frequently in recent years that FMCSA has set up a Fraud Alerts webpage to warn stakeholders of impersonations.

If you have been a target of a suspicious communication, the event should be reported to U.S. Federal Trade Commission, the Federal Bureau of Investigation Internet Complaint Center, your local police, and/or state attorney general's office.

Specific to scams against motor carriers, you can reach out to the FMCSA Contact Center or call (800) 832-5660.

Key to remember: Cyber criminals continue to use the same ploys with the same objective (e.g., bank accounts, personal identifiable information). Train your employees to be suspicious and slow to open, click, and respond to any requests — whether personal or business-related communication.

How would they help?

The following is a summary of how the proposed changes, if finalized, would ease burdens on commercial drivers and motor carriers:

ELD manuals: Drivers would no longer need to carry a user manual (either paper or electronic) for their electronic logging device (ELD). This violation alone was cited over 3,660 times last year. Other ELD-related documents would still be required, however, such as malfunction and transfer instructions and blank logs.

Railroad crossings: Bus drivers and those hauling certain hazardous materials would no longer need to stop before crossing a railroad track equipped with an active warning device (i.e., lights or gates), as long as the device is not activated.

Accident recording/reporting: Motor carriers would no longer need to record information about accidents where the only medical treatment that occurred involved imaging (such as x-rays or CT scans) or a prescription but no treatment for diagnosed injuries or other medical interventions directly related to the accident.

Inspections

• Motor carriers would only need to complete and return roadside inspection reports to the issuing state agency if that agency requests them (though the forms must still be retained for 12 months). Currently, 49 CFR 396.9 requires that all such reports be returned within 15 days.
• Though already allowed under 390.32, the rules would explicitly allow drivers and motor carriers to use electronic drivers’ vehicle inspection reports (DVIRs).

CDLs

• Commercial driver’s license (CDL) holders would no longer need to self-report motor vehicle violations to their state licensing agency, as currently required under 383.31.
• Dual-status military technicians, regardless of whether they’re members of either the Reserves or the National Guard, would qualify for the military exemption from needing a CDL, which also means being exempt from entry-level driver training and drug/alcohol testing.

Parts and accessories

• Drivers would no longer be required to carry spare fuses. The FMCSA says today’s vehicles don’t commonly suffer from blown fuses.
• Motor carriers would no longer need to ensure that their vehicles’ rear-impact guards have a permanent certification marking from the manufacturer.
• Tractors would no longer need a working rear license-plate lamp while pulling a trailer.
• It would no longer be a violation to use fuel tanks that can be filled beyond 95 percent of their capacity. Modern liquid-fuel tanks have vented caps that can safely accommodate a 100-percent fill, the FMCSA says.
• Drivers and motor carriers would no longer need to worry about being cited if their tire sidewalls are not marked with a maximum load rating. It’s up to tire manufacturers to determine if and when such markings are required.
• Drivers would be allowed to use small gravity- or siphon-fed auxiliary fuel pumps mounted on the trailer, as long as their tank capacity is less than 5 gallons and they’re not used for operating the vehicle or while the vehicle is moving. This would be a new exception to the current prohibition in 393.65(d).
• It would no longer be a violation to operate portable conveyors used in the aggregate industry without having brakes acting on all wheels, as long as the conveyor was manufactured before 2010 and the towing vehicle is large enough.

Other changes

The FMCSA issued a few other final or proposed changes that will have limited impact:

• Liquid-burning flares will no longer be an option. Drivers will need to use solid-fuel flares or reflective triangles to warn other motorists of a stopped vehicle.
• The agency plans to remove the requirement that motor carriers retrofit pre-1994 trailers with reflective tape or reflectors, saying the requirement is no longer necessary given the passage of time.
• The FMCSA intends to remove an obsolete grandfathering provision related to an old vision waiver study program.
• The agency will remove all references to “water carriers” in its regulations, since the FMCSA does not regulate such carriers. The agency says the term was carried over from when its predecessor agencies regulated water carriers.
• The regulations no longer say that motor carriers can be fined for violating Part 40 (the DOT drug/alcohol testing rules) since the FMCSA only has authority to issue fines for its own rules under Part 382.
• Some old routing regulations in Part 356 have been eliminated. The FMCSA says it’s not authorized to impose routing limitations when granting operating authority to U.S.-domiciled carriers, making the regulations both “unlawful and obsolete.”

Take action

Though you can’t take advantage of the changes until they’re finalized (probably later this year), you can help sway whether the changes actually take place. You can go online to submit comments about any of the FMCSA’s active proposals, at www.regulations.gov. Just look for the latest dockets from the FMCSA.

Key to remember: The FMCSA has issued a wide variety of proposed rule changes that could save time and money for both motor carriers and drivers.

Two-part assessment

The policy advises officers to begin all roadside inspections in English. If it seems the driver may not understand the officer’s initial instructions, the officer is directed to conduct a two-part assessment to evaluate the driver’s compliance with the English language standard.

The first step is a driver interview, though details of the interview process were redacted from the public version of the policy. The policy says drivers should not use tools to facilitate communication during the interview, such as interpreters or smart-phone applications.

The policy directs officers to cite drivers for a violation if they cannot pass the interview portion of the assessment.

Step two in the assessment is evaluating whether the driver can recognize common highway traffic signs. The policy contains images of signs officers can use for this part of the test, but those too are redacted from the public version of the policy.

‘Out of service’ as of June 25

If a driver fails the test, the policy says the officer should:

1. Cite the driver for a violation of 391.11(b)(2);
2. Document evidence to support the violation, including the driver’s responses or lack thereof;
3. Beginning June 25, place the driver out of service (June 25 is when the violation will be added to the North American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria, as previously announced by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance); and
4. When warranted, initiate an action to disqualify the driver from operating commercial motor vehicles in interstate commerce.

Drivers who are placed out of service won’t be allowed to drive until they can meet the English language requirements.

The policy applies to all federal enforcement personnel who perform inspections on drivers engaged in interstate commerce. Its effect on state-level enforcement remains unclear for now.

According to the policy, drivers in a commercial zone along the U.S.-Mexico border may be cited but should not be placed out of service.

The regulation

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations state that commercial drivers must be able to “read and speak the English language sufficiently to converse with the general public, to understand highway traffic signs and signals in the English language, to respond to official inquiries, and to make entries on reports and records.”

The new policy replaces a 2016 policy that ordered inspectors not to place drivers out of service for violating the language requirement.

The basics of logging exemptions

To be able to use this logging exemption in 395.1(e)(1), the driver must:

• Stay within 150 air-miles of the work reporting location for the day (draw a 150 air-mile radius circle around the work reporting location for the day — the driver must stay within this circle),
• Be back to — and released from — the work reporting location for his/her 8- or 10-hour break within 14 hours, and
• Include the starting and ending times for the day and the total hours on duty on the time record for the day.

The company must retain the time record and have it available for inspection for six months.

What if the driver goes too far or works too many hours?

If the driver cannot meet the terms of the exemption (he or she goes too far or works too many hours), the driver must complete a regular driver’s log for the day as soon as the exemption no longer applies.

If the driver has had to complete a log 8 or fewer days out of the last 30 days, the driver can use a paper log for the day. If the driver had to complete a log more than 8 days out of the last 30 days, the driver needs to use an electronic log for the day (unless one of the ELD exemptions applies, such as operating a vehicle older than model year 2000).

30-minute break exemption

When a property-carrying driver is operating under the 150 air-mile exemption, the driver is also exempt from having to take the required 30-minute break (see 395.3(a)(3)(ii)).

If the driver began the day as a 150 air-mile driver and has driven more than 8 consecutive hours without a break, and something unexpected happens and the driver can no longer use the 150 air-mile exemption, the driver must stop and immediately take the 30-minute break as well as start logging. If the driver went outside of the 150 air-mile area before the driver had 8 hours of driving without a break from driving, the driver would be expected to take the break at the appropriate time.

Common myths

Here are some of the common myths and misunderstandings about the 150 air-mile exemption:

• The driver must have the time records in the vehicle. Myth. The driver simply needs to explain to an officer during a roadside inspection that he/she does not have logs due to operating under the 150 air-mile exemption and that the required time records are back at the carrier’s office (just telling the officer, “I don’t have any logs” will lead to a violation, so the driver needs to know to provide the full explanation).
• The driver must log the previous seven days if he/she had been using this exemption and suddenly can’t. Myth. If the driver cannot use the exemption on one particular day, that is the only day the driver must use a regular log (either paper or electronic).
• Passenger-carrying drivers and drivers hauling hazardous materials cannot use this exemption. Myth. There are no restrictions on the use of this exemption, so any commercial driver can use it.
• A driver that crosses state lines cannot use this exemption. Myth. As this exemption appears in the Federal Motor Carrier Administration (FMCSA) regulations, it can be used by interstate drivers.
• Only drivers that operate out of a “company terminal” can use the 150 air-mile exemption. Myth. As long as the driver makes it back to the work reporting location for the day within the appropriate number of hours, the driver can use the exemption.
• Drivers that move from one jobsite to another every few weeks cannot use this exemption. Myth. If a driver that normally uses this exemption switches work reporting locations, the day the driver switches work reporting locations is the only day the driver cannot use the exemption.
• Drivers covered by this exemption are also exempt from the driver qualification (licensing and medical cards), driving, and vehicle inspection requirements. Myth. The only rules the driver is exempt from are the logging requirement in 395.8 and the 30-minute break requirement in 395.3.
• The driver cannot drive more than 150 miles for the day. Myth. The driver can drive as many miles as he/she wants to or needs to, as long as the driver stays within the 150 air-mile radius circle and gets back to the work reporting location within the appropriate number of hours.
• If a 150 air-mile driver gets into a vehicle with an ELD, the driver must use it. Myth. The carrier can have the driver log in and have the driver entered into the system as an “exempt driver,” or the carrier can request that the driver not log into the device and then attach a comment to the unassigned driving time generated by the driver’s movements. The comment would need to explain that the driver using the vehicle was a 150 air-mile driver who submitted a time record. It is up to the carrier to decide which option to use. If stopped for a roadside inspection, the driver will need to be able to explain to the inspector that he/she is an exempt driver using the 150 air-mile exemption, so using the electronic log is not required.

What’s different with the ‘150 air-mile non-CDL property-carrying drivers’

The 150 air-mile exemption at 395.1(e)(2) only applies to drivers that: Operate property-carrying vehicles that do not require a CDL to operate, and Stay within the 150 air-miles of their work reporting location.

If the driver stays within the 150 air-mile radius of the work reporting location, and returns to the work reporting location within 14 hours on 5 of the last 7 days, and 16 hours on 2 of the last seven days, the driver is allowed to use a time record in place of a log.

If the driver does not meet the terms of the exception, the driver will need to complete a log for the day. If the driver had to log more than 8 days out of the last 30 days, the driver will need to use an electronic log for the day. All of the other issues discussed above would apply to these drivers as well.

Managing the use

If you have drivers that use these exemptions, you will need to check time records to make sure they are complying with the appropriate time limits. You will also need to check movement records to verify that the drivers using these exemptions are staying within the mandated area (within 150 air-miles of the work reporting location for the day).

If a driver is over the hours limit, or has gone too far, you need to verify that the submitted a log for the day, either paper or electronic, depending on how many days the driver had to log out of the previous 30 days.

Verifying compliance is important

During an audit, if it is discovered that your drivers are using these exemptions incorrectly, you will be cited for not having drivers’ logs when required. Each day this occurred will be another violation, so the fine could be rather large if you are not managing the use of these exemptions!

Preparation

Listen then repeat

Difficult questions

Jumping ahead

What would you do?

So, if Joe Employee were to ask to bring in his emotional support squirrel, what do you do?

Treat the request as you would any accommodation request. You would do the same if Joe asked to bring in a service dog. Look at the particulars of the situation, including the employee’s job, the work environment, and so forth. Talk to the employee. This is all part of the ADA’s interactive process.

Assuming it’s possible to modify the no-animal policy, you may (but are not required to) ask for medical documentation if the disability and need for accommodation are not obvious or already verified. You have to consider only those accommodations that are needed because of a disability. Documentation might include a detailed description of how the animal would help the employee in performing job tasks and how the animal is trained to behave in the workplace.

Once the need for accommodation is established, the next step is to talk with the employee about whether the animal is trained to be in a work environment and if it will be under the employee’s control at all times. You do not have to provide any accommodation that poses an undue hardship. One factor in determining undue hardship is whether the accommodation will be unduly disruptive to other employees or to the ability to conduct business.

Finally, possibly the best way to determine whether to permit the employee to bring an animal to work is to allow it on a trial basis and see if it works. You might want to make a written agreement with the employee that there will be a trial period, how long it will last, and what factors might end the trial period early. If, for example, the animal shows any sign of aggression or if the employee cannot keep the animal quiet or under control, you will immediately end the trial period and deny the request.

If you do not have a no-animal policy and allow other employees to bring in animals, then you should allow employees with disabilities to bring in animals without going through the accommodation process.

When

After employees receive a certification request, they have at least 15 calendar days to get it completed and returned to the employer. If, however, employees can’t meet that 15-day deadline despite their good-faith efforts, employers must be flexible.

If employees don’t meet the 15-day deadline without a good reason, employers may delay FMLA protections after the 15-day deadline has passed and until employees give them a certification.

Who

Not everyone may complete an FMLA certification. For medical leave, only certain health care providers can complete a certification. These include:

• Doctors of Medicine or osteopathy,
• Podiatrists,
• Dentists,
• Clinical psychologists,
• Optometrists,
• Chiropractors,
• Nurse practitioners,
• Nurse-midwives,
• Clinical social workers,
• Physician assistants, and
• Christian Science Practitioners.

Importantly, any health care provider from whom employers or their group health plan’s benefits manager will accept certification of the existence of a serious health condition to substantiate a claim for benefits will also suffice.

What (information)

The information in the certification should include whether the employee or family member has an FMLA serious health condition. The second page has a checklist that health care providers can use to indicate this.

Employers may not require that a certification include a diagnosis. Doctors might include related medical information, but only if they see fit to do so.

A certification should also tell the employer when to expect the employee to take leave.

Keep it confidential

Certifications often include quite a bit of medical information. Under the FMLA, employers must keep such information confidential and separate from the general personnel file(s).

Employers may share medical information in only three exceptions:

1. They may tell supervisors and managers about necessary work restrictions and necessary accommodations.
2. They may tell first aid and safety personnel (when appropriate) if the employee's physical or medical condition might require emergency treatment.
3. They must give government officials investigating compliance with FMLA (or other pertinent law) relevant information upon request.

Key to remember: Certifications are often at the heart of FMLA leave administration as they contain relevant information employers need to determine if an absence qualifies for FMLA protections.

FMLA certification basics

Employers aren’t required to use certifications, but if they do, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has five different certification forms to use for various FMLA leave situations.

The forms are as follows:

1. Certification of Health Care Provider for Employee's Serious Health Condition,
2. Certification of Health Care Provider for Family Member's Serious Health Condition,
3. Certification of Qualifying Exigency for Military Family Leave,
4. Certification for Serious Injury or Illness of a Current Servicemember for Military Family Leave, and
5. Certification for Serious Injury or Illness of a Veteran for Military Family Leave.

Let’s focus on the first two, as these are the most common ones HR administrators use.

Who can fill out an FMLA certification?

The FMLA regulations describe the person who has the authority to fill out a certification as a “health care provider.” The good news is, the regulations include a lengthy list of medical professionals who fit this role.

Under the FMLA, a health care provider includes:

• A doctor of medicine or osteopathy,
• A podiatrist,
• A dentist,
• A clinical psychologist,
• An optometrist,
• A chiropractor (limited to manual manipulation of the spine as demonstrated by X-ray),
• A nurse practitioner,
• A nurse midwife,
• A clinical social worker,
• A physician assistant,
• A Christian Science practitioner, and
• Any health care provider from whom the employer or the employer's group health plan's benefits manager will accept a medical certification to substantiate a claim for benefits.

To be qualified to fill out FMLA forms, medical professionals must be authorized to practice in the state and perform within the scope of their practice. This means that the provider must be authorized to diagnose and treat physical or mental health conditions.

What about doctors in a foreign country?

If an employee or an employee's family member is visiting another country, or a family member resides in another country, and a serious health condition develops, the employer must accept a medical certification from a health care provider who practices in that country. This includes second and third opinions.

If a medical certification from a foreign health care provider is not in English, the employee may be required to provide a written translation of the certification.

Key to remember: The FMLA regulations spell out which medical professionals can fill out certification forms.

Improper pool construction

In a recent case, the Iowa Supreme Court ruled that an employer violated the state’s drug testing law because it did not properly create a drug-testing pool.

Few states regulate drug testing as strictly as Iowa. Employers testing in the state must follow the state's law unless they are required to follow federal drug and alcohol testing regulations that cover employees doing safety-sensitive work, such as certain truck drivers.

For tests conducted under the state’s comprehensive drug testing law, employers must use one of three methods to create an employee testing pool for an unannounced drug test.

One method uses a pool comprised of the entire population of employees at a work site, except for those:

• Not subject to testing because of a collective bargaining agreement;
• Who are not scheduled to be at work at the time the testing is conducted because of their status; or
• Who have been excused from work pursuant to the employer’s work policy before the testing is announced to employees.

Testing troubles

For the company’s random test, a list of all active employees was used. From this list, a computer-based random generator produced a testing list of 15 employees and eight alternates. If an employee selected for the test was not at work on the day the test was given, an alternate was selected.

One of the alternates subject to testing provided a urine sample that was outside of the acceptable temperature range. The employee was directed to provide another sample, but the sample wasn’t large enough for testing.

The employee waited at the worksite for a time and then told the company’s human resources director he was leaving to take care of a sick child. He was warned that he would be fired if he left. He left the area and was later fired.

The employee filed a lawsuit claiming that the employer’s testing pool did not meet state requirements.

Strict state standards

The employer argued that because no employees who were not scheduled to work could have been tested, it substantially complied with the state law and the pool met requirements.

The court ruled, however, that the company’s testing pool didn’t meet the law's standards. The law places limits on how the testing pool can be constructed, and to substantially comply with the law the company would have had to make an effort to properly create the testing pool.

It fell short because its testing pool consisted of all active employees in the company, and didn’t exclude employees who were not scheduled to be at work when the test was conducted or who had been excused from work under the employer’s work policy.

Compliance with the law would have required the employer to compile a list of employees who were scheduled to work on the planned testing day. That list could have been the testing pool, and names could have been randomly selected from that list.

Because the company didn’t substantially comply with the law and make reasonable efforts to ensure that the pool was constructed properly, the court found in favor of the employee.

State laws vary

Most states don’t have drug testing laws that are as detailed as Iowa’s, and some states don’t have any drug testing laws at all. In those states, employers may determine how the selection pool is created. Having this outlined in a workplace policy allows for consistency and can help avoid the claim that a test was conducted in a discriminatory manner.

Key to remember: In all cases, employers should pay attention to the details of state regulations that impact employee drug testing. In some states, such as Iowa, drug testing must be very carefully conducted to avoid violating state law.

Scott Hampe vs. Charles Gabus Motors, Iowa Supreme Court, No. 22-1599, April 11, 2025.

#1 Start here

First, OSHA requires that all operators must be trained prior to being allowed to operate forklifts. And the same thing goes for pallet trucks, order pickers, and stand-up units…. Any powered type of material handling equipment requires training.

But what does training entail? Well, the OSHA regulations are very specific. All operators must receive a combination of training. Training must consist of formal training, which is a lecture, discussion, interactive computer learning, video tape, written material, and so on.

They must also receive practical training, which means demonstrations performed by the trainer and practical exercises performed by the trainee.

And the third component is that operators must receive a performance evaluation. So, they must operate the equipment and be observed and evaluated before being considered trained per the OSHA standard.

Usually, you’ll introduce the concepts during the classroom portion of training, the more informational aspects, such as the OSHA requirements. Then you’ll use the practical part of training to familiarize trainees with controls, talk about load handling, and so on. With the practical part, it’s usually best to ramp up the training, meaning start with simple skills and then build on those.

#2 Train on these topics

Aside from requirements for how to do the training, OSHA gives us a detailed list of topics to cover during the training.

The main categories are truck-related and workplace-related topics. And remember that OSHA does require you to include information on OSHA’s forklift standard as part of the training program. This requirement can be easy to overlook, but a good way to approach it is in the classroom portion of the program.

Keep in mind that if a topic doesn’t apply to your trucks or workplace, you don’t have to train on it. For example, if you don’t have any ramps or hazardous (classified) locations in your facility, your forklift operators don’t need training on these topics.

Truck-related topics include the following:

• Operation instruction, warnings
• Differences between forklift and automobile
• Controls, instrumentation
• Engine, motor operation
• Steering
• Visibility, restrictions
• Fork, attachment operation
• Capacity
• Stability
• Inspection, maintenance
• Refueling, recharging
• Operating limitations
• Operator’s manual instructions, precautions

Workplace-related topics are examples like these:

• Surfaces
• Load composition
• Load handling
• Pedestrians
• Narrow, restricted areas
• Hazardous (classified) locations
• Ramps
• Poor ventilation
• Other hazards

#3 Determine success

The trainees must successfully complete the formal and practical instruction, but how you determine success is up to you. For the classroom portion, you could give a written or oral test or otherwise evaluate the trainees’ knowledge. For the practical training, the trainee must be able to safely perform all the operations used on the job.

#4 End here

An evaluation of the operator’s performance in the workplace must be conducted at the time of initial training. And an evaluation is required to determine the effectiveness of any refresher training.

Also, you must conduct an evaluation at least every three years. This means that at least once every three years every operator must be observed while they operate in the workplace under actual workplace conditions. During the evaluation, the operator must also be able to answer pertinent questions to demonstrate they have the knowledge to operate the forklift safely.

A key point to note here, this evaluation must be more than just a written or verbal test. The employer must observe the operator in action performing all typical tasks related to running the forklift. And, going back to where we started, the evaluation must be conducted by someone who has the knowledge, training, and experience to evaluate the truck operator’s competence.

Document the evaluation — this means placing a record in your training file that includes the name of the operator, the date of the training, the date of the evaluation, and the identity of the person(s) performing the training or evaluation.

Action item

This may be a good time for you to review your options for training forklift operators to ensure they’re meeting these guidelines. And, it’s always a great idea to have all your training procedures in written format for consistency.

Key to remember

Training forklift operators is an OSHA requirement. Follow this step-by-step guide and you can do it in-house.

Q: When will OSHA’s proposed Heat rule become final?

A: The agency has scheduled a virtual public hearing for June 16 on its proposed Heat rule. Following the hearing, OSHA will analyze comments it received, which can take several months. Once this step is completed, OSHA will determine what’s next. This may include finalizing the rule.

Q: How does the proposed heat rule define indoor work?

A: “Indoor” is defined in the proposed rule as “an area under a ceiling or overhead covering that restricts airflow and has along its entire perimeter walls, doors, windows, dividers, or other physical barriers that restrict airflow, whether open or closed.” Examples include:

• A garage, even if the door is open;
• The interior of a warehouse, even if multiple doors are open on loading docks; and
• A shed with four walls and a ceiling, even if the windows are open.

Construction activity is considered “indoors” when performed inside a structure after the outside walls and the roof are built.

Q: Which states have their own heat regulations?

A: Several states have their own heat-related regulations. Note that they vary in the type of industries covered, whether they apply to indoor and/or outdoor workplaces, and the expectations and requirements for employers. These states are:

• California
• Colorado
• Maryland
• Minnesota
• Nevada
• Oregon
• Washington

Additionally, Arizona and OSHA Region IX have launched emphasis programs.

• Arizona — In July 2023, Arizona implemented a state emphasis program (SEP) to reduce worker exposure to heat-related hazards in indoor and outdoor workplaces. In May 2025, the state’s governor formed a heat safety task force, with the goal of developing employer guidelines on heat safety by the end of 2025.
• OSHA Region IX — This region adopted a regional emphasis program (REP) for heat illness in November 2022. It applies to indoor and outdoor worksites where potential heat-related hazards exist in Alaska, American Samoa, Arizona, California, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, the Northern Mariana Islands, Oregon, and Washington.

And finally, several states and territories adopted OSHA’s National Emphasis Program (NEP) for indoor and outdoor heat hazards (CPL 03-00-024). Some adopt it identically and others made changes. These include California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Oregon, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Virginia, the Virgin Islands, Vermont, and Washington.

Q: Can OSHA cite our warehouse for heat hazards?

A: Yes, OSHA can cite your warehouse for heat hazards. In fact, under the agency’s NEP (CPL 03-00-024), OSHA compliance officers must initiate inspections in any of the 70 listed, high-risk industries (including the warehousing and storage industry) in outdoor and indoor work settings when the National Weather Service issues a heat warning or advisory for a local area. Inspectors will review illness logs and other records, interview workers, determine if the employer has a heat illness prevention program, document ambient conditions, and identify work activities relevant to heat-related hazards.

If there’s sufficient evidence to issue a citation for heat-related hazards, a citation under the General Duty Clause, Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act will be issued.

Q: Does heat stress have to be reported on our OSHA Logs?

A: Heat illness cases must be recorded if they meet OSHA’s recording criteria. To be recordable, the condition must involve medical treatment beyond first aid. First aid treatments listed in 29 CFR 1904.7 include “drinking fluids for relief of heat stress.” For instance, if an employee showed heat stress symptoms and needed a break to cool down and drink fluids, this alone is not a “recordable” case for the 300 Log. However, if the employee went to the hospital for intravenous (IV) fluid replacement, that would be recordable as medical treatment. Similarly, OSHA says if the employee went unconscious or oxygen was administered, the case is required to be recorded.

A case of heat stress will also become recordable if the employee needs restrictions or days away from work.

Key to remember: In the absence of a final Heat rule at the federal level, OSHA can use the General Duty Clause to cite for heat-related hazards. On June 16, the agency will hold a virtual public hearing on its proposed Heat rule. Meanwhile, some states already have heat regulations in place.

Job security failure

That evening, Brandon texted his supervisor to report a potentially fatal safety risk created by another coworker and provided photos of the incident. He had taken the photos a month previously, but did not immediately report the issue. In fact, after taking the pictures, he allegedly boasted to a coworker that he was holding on to them for “job security.”

When Brandon got fired less than two weeks later, his month-long delay in reporting a serious safety issue was one of the factors cited, along with his behavioral problems. In addition, the employee who Brandon had told about the photos was admonished for not relaying the concern sooner. And of course, the employee who caused the safety issue was counseled on avoiding future risks (the court documents did not describe the nature of the safety issue).

This situation became a court case because Brandon sued for wrongful termination relating to his request for leave under the FMLA. He claimed that he was fired for attempting to exercise his FMLA rights, but in the words of the court, he was fired “for failure to reform his behavior and to report the safety concern timely.” Although the FMLA does allow employees to take job-protected leave and prohibits retaliation for exercising those rights, it does not grant employees protection from termination for misconduct or other legitimate workplace concerns.

For related information, see our article, Can you fire someone who got injured? Yes, if you do it correctly.

Not retaliation

This case presents an interesting outcome, since employees can be protected from termination or retaliation for reporting a safety concern. In this case, however, the employee intentionally withheld knowledge of a safety concern, knowing that he was facing disciplinary action, thinking he could play that card in the future to protect his job.

Ironically, rather than providing the “job security” that he expected, the reporting delay contributed to the company’s decision to fire him — and the court agreed that it was a justifiable reason to fire someone.

The case was Tatum v. Southern Company Services, Inc., in the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals (No. 18-40775), with the ruling made July 22, 2019.

Key to Remember: Several federal laws prohibit retaliation against employees who exercise certain rights, but those laws do not protect employees from termination for legitimate reasons, including safety violations.

Several violations identified

OSHA investigators determined the company exposed employees to electrical hazards, when investigators found the employer:

• Permitted use of expired electrical protective equipment.
• Neglected to ensure workers’ ability to recognize and address electrical hazards before work began.
• Failed to supervise workers and conduct inspections on an annual basis.
• Did not provide adequate briefings on job hazards, work procedures involved, special precautions, energy-source controls and personal protective equipment required.
• Allowed live-line tools for work on live power lines that should have been removed from service every two years.
• Let workers using tools within nine inches of an energized cutout switch and attempting to work on a broken cutout switch without ensuring that all equipment was properly de-energized as required by safety regulations.
• Failed to ensure equipment was de-energized.

In addition, OSHA found that the employer failed to inspect the worksite to identify possible hazards, before employees conducted repairs and maintenance in overhead power lines.

OSHA issued the employer eight citations and proposed nearly $85,000 in penalties.

Key to remember: Electrical hazards are one of the deadliest hazards found on construction sites. Prevent worker fatalities by adhering to the OSHA compliance requirements.

What are welding fumes?

Welding fumes are a mixture of metallic oxides, silicates, and fluorides generated when metals are heated above their melting point. As the vaporized metal cools, it condenses into a particulate matter that becomes airborne and easily inhaled. The content of the fumes depends on factors such as the type of welding process, base and filler metals used, gases, and any surface coatings present. For example, welding stainless steel can release hexavalent chromium, a well-known carcinogen. Even brief exposure can cause dizziness, respiratory irritation, and nausea. Over time, the health effects become more severe and include chronic bronchitis, neurological disorders, metal fume fever, and an increased risk of lung cancer. Other substances are manganese (linked to neurological damage like Parkinson’s), nickel and cadmium (both related to cancer and respiratory issues), and gases like ozone and nitrogen oxides (severely irritate lung tissue).

Controlling exposure

1. Controlling exposure to welding fumes should follow OSHA’s hierarchy of controls: Elimination or Substitution – using lower emission welding rods, choosing welding methods that produce fewer fumes like TIG, and cleaning surfaces of paints or coatings before welding.
2. Engineering Controls – installing local exhaust ventilation is the gold standard, but you can also use portable fume extractors and welding booths with fume arms when mobility is needed. Adequate ventilation in the welding areas also prevents other workers from being exposed.
3. Administrative controls – rotating tasks to reduce exposure duration, scheduling high fume work when fewer workers are present, and maintaining clean areas to prevent build-up.
4. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) – Using powered air-purifying respirators for high-risk jobs or wearing a properly rated welding helmet and respirator combo. Workers should be trained to check, wear, and maintain their PPE frequently.

Monitoring and compliance

You cannot manage what you do not know, so monitoring air quality in welding areas is crucial. Air sampling should be conducted regularly to measure exposure levels against OSHA and ACGIH limits, especially when welding stainless steel, galvanized metal, or working in confined spaces. Hiring an industrial hygienist or using real-time monitoring equipment ensures that employers are compliant and actively protecting their workers. In summary, welding is hazardous, but exposure to toxic fumes does not have to be part of the job. Employers can significantly reduce the risk of occupational illnesses by recognizing what is in the air, implementing layered safety controls, and consistently monitoring work environments.

Keys to remember: Welding fumes are a serious short and long term health risk, but they are entirely avoidable with the right controls.

OSHA’s announcement on helmets vs. hard hats

OSHA released a Safety and Health Bulletin (SHIB 11-22-2023) on November 22, 2023, detailing the key differences and benefits of using modern safety helmets over traditional hard hats.

And just a few weeks later, in the December 11, 2023 Trade Release, the Agency announced it would now require its inspectors to wear Type II head protection, which is also commonly referred to as safety helmets.

The two main benefits of Type II safety helmets

The November 22, 2023 SHIB discussed two main benefits of choosing modern safety helmets over traditional hard hats -- the construction of materials and the use of chinstraps.

And while OSHA has recognized the benefits of Type II safety helmets, and is actively taking steps to protect its own employees, it’s important to understand that there is not a new requirement for employers to make the switch to safety helmets.

That being said, a growing number of employers have recognized the benefits of added head protection and are choosing to use Type II helmets for their workers. In addition, some clients are starting to contractually require their construction contractors to make the switch as well.

Understanding the different types of head protection

Hard hats will have a Type I or Type II rating on the manufacturer’s sticker. These markings are based on ANSI Z89.1’s impact ratings.

Type I hard hats protect from objects or impacts from the top center area of the hard hat and are often used in work areas with no lateral head impact hazards.

Type II hard hats, on the other hand, offers protection from both top and lateral impacts and objects and is often found on construction job sites or complex general industry settings where workers face multiple head contact exposures.

Hard hats are classified based on their level of voltage protection. See the chart below.

Choosing the right head protection for your employees

Employers should conduct a job hazard analysis and/or a PPE assessment to determine which style hard hat is best for their workers. In general, OSHA recommends the use of Type II safety helmets at the following locations:

1. Construction Sites: For construction sites, especially those with high risks of falling objects and debris, impacts from equipment, or slips, trips, and falls, safety helmets have enhanced impact resistance and additional features that offer superior protection compared to the components and construction of traditional hard hats.

2. Oil and Gas Industry: In these sectors where workers face multiple hazards, including potential exposure to chemicals and severe impacts, safety helmets with additional features can provide comprehensive protection.

3. Working from Heights: For tasks or jobs that involve working from heights, safety helmets offer protection of the entire head and include features that prevent the safety helmet from falling off.

4. Electrical Work: For tasks involving electrical work or proximity to electrical hazards, safety helmets with non-conductive materials (Class G and Class E) provide protection to prevent electrical shocks. However, some traditional hard hats also offer electrical protection.

5. High-Temperature Environments: In high temperatures or where there is exposure to molten materials, safety helmets with advanced heat-resistant properties can provide additional protection to workers.

Key to remember: While there isn’t a new requirement for safety helmets, employers should review their workplace hazards to determine which style of hard hat will best protect their employees.