Regulatory Compliance News & Updates
Keep up to date on the latest
developments affecting OSHA, DOT,
EPA, and DOL regulatory compliance.
Copyright 2026 J. J. Keller & Associate, Inc. For re-use options please contact copyright@jjkeller.com or call 800-558-5011.
Safety & Compliance News
FEATURED NEWS
NewsWaste ManifestsEnforcement and Audits - OSHAWaste/HazWasteWater ProgramsMonthly Roundup VideoCAA ComplianceUSACWA ComplianceStormwaterEnglishAir ProgramsIndustry NewsEnforcement and Audits - OSHAMunicipal WastewaterSafety & HealthGeneral Industry SafetyWasteEnvironmentalFocus AreaAir ProgramsVideo
EHS Monthly Round Up - March 2026
In this March 2026 roundup video, we'll review the most impactful environmental health and safety news.
Hi everyone! Welcome to the monthly news roundup video, where we’ll review the most impactful environmental health and safety news. Let’s take a look at what happened over the past month.
OSHA released an updated Job Safety and Health poster. Employers can use either the revised version or the older one, but the poster must be displayed in a conspicuous place where workers can easily see it.
OSHA recently removed a link from its Data topic webpage that displayed a list of “high-penalty cases” at or over $40,000 since 2015. The agency says it discontinued and removed it in December. The data is frozen and archived elsewhere.
OSHA published two new resources as part of its newly launched Safety Champions Program. The fact sheet provides an overview of how the program works, eligibility criteria, and key benefits. The step-by-step guide helps businesses navigate the core elements of OSHA’s Recommended Practices for Safety and Health Programs.
Several forces are nudging OSHA to address a number of workplace hazards and high-hazard industries. This comes from other agencies, safety organizations, watchdogs, legislative proposals, and persistent injury/fatality data. Among the hazards are combustible dust; first aid; personal protective equipment; and workplace violence. How all this translates into new regulations, guidance, programmed inspections, or other initiatives remains to be seen.
Turning to environmental news, EPA issued a proposed rule to require waste handlers to use electronic manifests to track all RCRA hazardous waste shipments. Stakeholders have until May 4 to comment on the proposal.
On March 10, EPA finalized stronger emission limits for new and existing large municipal waste combustors and made other changes to related standards.
And finally, EPA temporarily extended coverage under the 2021 Multi-Sector General Permit for industrial stormwater discharges until the agency issues a new general permit. The permit expired February 28 and remains in effect for facilities previously covered. EPA won’t take enforcement action against new facilities for unpermitted stormwater discharges if the facilities meet specific conditions.
Thanks for tuning in to the monthly news roundup. We’ll see you next month!
Keep reading...Show less
RECENT INDUSTRY HIGHLIGHTS
NewsEmployment ContractsIndependent ContractorsMonthly Roundup VideoContingent WorkforceFamily and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)LeaveFamily and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)USAHuman ResourcesLeaveHR ManagementEnglishAssociate Benefits & CompensationIndustry NewsContingent WorkforceWage and HourHours WorkedHR GeneralistFair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)Non-Exempt employees Associate RelationsFocus AreaVideo
HR Monthly Round Up - March 2026
In this March 2026 roundup video, we’ll review the most impactful HR news.
Welcome, everyone! In the next few minutes, we’ll review the latest HR news. Let’s get started.
On February 27th, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division published a proposed rule that would rescind the 2024 independent contractor rule and replace it with a rule that’s similar to the one that was finalized in 2021, but never took effect. The public may submit comments until April 28th.
In the meantime, employers should follow guidance from the 2024 rule and ensure they’re complying with all federal, state, and local employment laws, especially when it comes to properly classifying workers.
One other tidbit about this independent contractor proposed rule, it also stretches its application beyond the federal Fair Labor Standards Act to the federal Family and Medical Leave Act.
While employers wouldn’t see a major FMLA change, if the proposed rule is finalized, they would benefit from the simplicity and certainty of having both laws use the same definitions.
And, finally, could a federal paid leave law be in the works? While employers shouldn’t hold their breath, paid leave is once again on the minds of Congress members. On February 24th, the U.S. House Employee Protections subcommittee held a hearing titled “Balancing Careers and Care: Examining Innovative Approaches to Paid Leave.” The hearing was held to examine the challenges of the U.S. paid leave landscape.
With the patchwork of state paid leave laws, House members at the hearing recognized the challenge private-sector employers have in navigating them. While nothing may come of this, it shows Congress is still very interested in the topic of paid leave.
That’s all the HR news we have time for today. Thanks for watching. See you next month!
Keep reading...Show less
2026-04-07T05:00:00Z
NewsUnified Carrier Registration Agreement (UCR)Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), DOTChange NoticesChange NoticeFocus AreaFleet OperationsEnglishTransportationRegistration and Permits - Motor CarrierUSA
FMCSA Proposed Rule: Fees for the Unified Carrier Registration Plan and Agreement
FMCSA proposes amendments to its regulations governing the annual Unified Carrier Registration (UCR) Plan and Agreement registration fees that participating States collect from motor carriers, motor private carriers of property, brokers, freight forwarders, and leasing companies. The UCR Board of Directors (Board) did not recommend any change in fees for the 2026 registration year, therefore the fees remained the same as the 2025 registration year. However, on September 18, 2025, the Board recommended a fee increase for the 2027 registration year and subsequent registration years. This recommended increase averages 20 percent, with varying increases between $9 and $9,329 per entity, depending on the applicable fee bracket. Even after the proposed increase, the fees for registration year 2027 are still less than those in effect during registration years 2019 through 2022. FMCSA proposes to adopt the recommended fee increase.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before May 7, 2026. Published in the Federal Register April 7, 2026, page 17618.
View proposed rule.
Keep reading...Show less
2026-04-06T05:00:00Z
NewsSafety & HealthChange NoticesChange NoticeFall ProtectionGeneral Industry SafetyWalking Working SurfacesFall ProtectionOccupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), DOLWalking Working SurfacesEnglishFocus AreaUSA
OSHA Proposed Rule: Walking-Working Surfaces
This proposed rule removes a deadline in OSHA’s Walking-Working Surfaces standard by which all fixed ladders that extend more than 24 feet above a lower level must be equipped with personal fall arrest systems or ladder safety systems. Additionally, OSHA is seeking comment on repealing or revising the requirement that employers use personal fall arrest systems on all fixed ladders over 24 feet tall and instead permitting employers to continue to use ladder cages or wells.
DATES: Comments and other information, including requests for a hearing, must be received on or before June 5, 2026. Published in the Federal Register April 6, 2026, page 17165.
View proposed rule.
Keep reading...Show less
2026-04-06T05:00:00Z
NewsIndustry NewsIndustry NewsSafety & HealthGeneral Industry SafetyWalking Working SurfacesOccupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), DOLLaddersEnglishFocus AreaUSA
OSHA proposes removing fixed ladder deadline from WWS rule
An OSHA proposed rule would remove a November 18, 2036, deadline in the Walking-Working Surfaces standard that requires all fixed ladders that extend more than 24 feet above a lower level to be equipped with personal fall arrest systems or ladder safety systems. OSHA also seeks feedback on repealing or revising the requirement and instead permitting employers to continue to use ladder cages or wells. The proposed changes affect 29 CFR 1910.28.
The agency requests comments, data, and information on nine specific questions related to the proposed rule. Stakeholders have until June 5, 2026, to comment. Search for Docket No. OSHA-2025-0072 at regulations.gov.
2026-04-03T05:00:00Z
NewsIndustry NewsEnglishFleet SafetyOut-of-service criteria - Motor CarrierFines and penalties - Motor CarrierFocus AreaIn-Depth ArticleEnforcement - DOTRoadside InspectionsTransportationUSA
From warning to OOS: Your ticket to Roadcheck results
With the Roadcheck inspection event approaching, now’s the time to check your knowledge about the various types of “tickets” commercial truck and bus drivers may receive out on the road.
Some carry more consequences than others, including how they impact your company’s Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA) scores and drivers’ records.
The following should help clarify the difference between warnings, convictions, citations, and other enforcement actions and their effects under CSA.
Violation: A violation is an infringement of a law or rule. If an officer catches it, then it could lead to one of the following items.
Warning: A warning is notice that you are in violation of a law or regulation. A warning can be verbal or written. If the violation is documented on a roadside inspection report (i.e., a Driver/Vehicle Examination Report), it will affect your company’s CSA results and may appear on the driver’s record, even if it was “just a warning.” A verbal warning will generally not be recorded.
Citation: A citation (often called a “ticket” or “summons”) is a formal notice of an alleged violation, typically carrying a fine and/or a requirement to respond to (or appear in) court. A driver who receives a citation generally has the option to settle the matter out of court by paying a fine (which may result in a conviction). A citation may be issued with or without a roadside inspection report. Either way, it will appear on the driver’s record, but only those violations appearing on roadside inspection reports will affect your CSA scores. If a local officer who is not qualified to inspect commercial vehicles issues a citation, it should not appear on a roadside inspection report and will therefore not affect your CSA scores.
Conviction: A conviction is a court outcome (or equivalent) finding someone responsible for a violation. Paying a fine, pleading “no contest,” or forfeiting bail are often treated as convictions under state law. Convictions can appear on driving records and can trigger state “license points” and other consequences, including disqualification and loss of driving privileges. Convictions themselves do not affect CSA scores, but the citations that lead to them do.
If a citation associated with roadside inspection violations is dismissed (with no fine) or reduced to a lesser charge, or the driver is found not guilty, the driver or company can use the online DataQs system to request that their safety record — in both CSA and the Pre-employment Screening Program — reflect the results.
Violations noted: These are violations documented on a roadside inspection report that do affect CSA scores but do not rise to the level of a written warning or citation and do not appear on the driver’s record (unless a citation was also issued). The violations must be corrected and the form returned to the state or it could lead to a violation of 49 CFR 396.9, Inspection of motor vehicles and intermodal equipment in operation.
“Fix-it ticket”: This is a common term for a state-issued document requiring a driver/carrier to repair a defect and provide proof of correction by a certain deadline. How it is issued varies by jurisdiction, but it does not affect CSA scores unless documented on a roadside inspection report. If the defect is not corrected, it could lead to a citation and appear on the driver’s record.
OOS order: An out-of-service order places the driver or vehicle out of service until a violation is corrected. This may or may not be accompanied by a citation. The criteria used by enforcement officials to determine if a driver or vehicle should be placed out of service are published by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance. Out-of-service violations carry more “weight” than other roadside violations in the CSA scoring system.
Points: The “points” system is a state-administered program that is not tied to CSA. A state licensing agency may assign “points” to your driver’s license if you are convicted for moving violations, and if you collect enough points within a prescribed amount of time your driving privileges may be suspended or revoked. However, getting points on your license has no effect on your CSA scores. The “severities” assigned to violations in the CSA scoring system are sometimes referred to as “points,” but they are not the same as license points.
What to do after an inspection or ticket
After an inspection, keep a copy of the roadside inspection report and any citation. Make sure repairs are completed promptly and that any required certification/proof of correction is submitted within 15 days per the instructions on the report.
If you believe inspection data is incorrect (wrong vehicle/carrier, violation doesn’t apply, etc.), be sure to submit a “Request for Data Review” using the DataQs system.
Key to remember: Roadcheck and other enforcement activities can result in a variety of tickets, citations, and other consequences, with varying impact on CSA scores. Be sure you know the differences between them.
Keep reading...Show less
Search all news
Got a Compliance Question?
We’ve Got You Covered!
Get clear, reliable answers from experts with 500+ years of combined experience.
J. J. Keller is the trusted source for DOT / Transportation, OSHA / Workplace Safety, Human Resources, Construction Safety and Hazmat / Hazardous Materials regulation compliance products and services. J. J. Keller helps you increase safety awareness, reduce risk, follow best practices, improve safety training, and stay current with changing regulations.
Copyright 2026 J. J. Keller & Associate, Inc. For re-use options please contact copyright@jjkeller.com or call 800-558-5011.