AOHP 2015 National Conference

Topic Overview: 

Occupational health plays a pivotal role in the ongoing safety of the work environment.  As members of the management team, it is essential for occupational health professionals to know and understand the potential changes in the regulatory environment caused by the passage of newly introduced legislation. This session will review the pertinent and germane bills introduced in the first session of the 114th Congress and give insights into the reasons behind the issues. We will examine the bills which have passed and the bills which have been introduced – both shed light on where we are heading in the ever-changing – and evolving – regulatory arena of occupational health.

We will also review new initiatives presented by various federal agencies. Since 2008, OSHA has once again become an enforcement agency and, in its fall 2014 regulatory agenda, OSHA has included initiatives for a new infectious disease standard and regulations which may result in changes to the Recordkeeping Standard. This section of the legislative review will discuss the proposed regulations introduced by the Department of Labor and Health and Human Services and give details of the potential outcomes and impacts on occupational health professionals.

Objectives:

1. Identify which new legislation introduced into the 114th Congress may impact occupational health.
2. Describe the issues behind newly introduced legislation and the potential for passage.
3. Identify strategies to address departmental changes brought on by the newly introduced legislation.
4. Review OSHA’s and HHS's upcoming regulatory agenda for 2015 andinitiatives which may impact the Occupational Health Department.