GCCA, CWS Sends Comments to OHSA on Proposed Walkaround Rule Change

On November 13^th, GCCA along with industry allies signed a letter sent by the Coalition for Workplace Safety (CWS), to OSHA regarding its proposed walkaround representative rule change.  On August 30^th, 2023, OSHA announced its intention to change the Worker Walkaround Representative Designation process, which would allow for an employee to choose a third-party representative to accompany OSHA inspectors in nonunion facilities.  The coalition letter explains how OSHA’s proposed rule: Diminishes OSHA’s own credibility as a neutral enforcement agency, lacks necessary guardrails to protect employer privacy interests, conflicts with the National Labor Relations Act, lacks necessary structure to determine who qualifies as an “Authorized Representative”, fails to account for the right of employees to reject representation, and overall, discourages employer cooperation with OSHA through the creation of administrative burdens that will slow down inspections.  Due to all these concerns GCCA and industry partners are urging OSHA to withdraw the proposed change.