As we approach the end of January, we would like to remind our members that the OSHA 300A Form posting deadline is approaching. The OSHA Record Keeping Rule requires employers keep records of all work-related injuries and illnesses. This includes the OSHA 300, 300A and the First Report of Injury that employers must have on file. If [...]
Please see the following message from Harrison Ashley with NCGA: Dear Ginner, To allow the NCC to have the most complete planting intentions information, gins are being asked to participate in a short confidential online survey. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/RM9BRWB Gins are in constant contact with their producers and generally have a good idea as to the next [...]
The Centers for Disease Control recently updated their Covid-19 Guidelines. These new updates decreased the time quarantine/isolation time required after being exposed or contracting Covid-19. As usual, the government managed to make the guidelines more complex incorporating vaccination status into the decision process. We will attempt to summarize the important parts to this new guideline [...]
We received notice from the Coalition for Workplace Safety late yesterday that the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit has dissolved the stay on the Covid ETS (ETS). This means the ETS is now in effect, and that OSHA got an early Christmas present. While the ETS will almost certainly now head [...]
Please see the following message from Harrison Ashley with NCGA: Dear Ginner, To allow the NCC to have the most complete planting intentions information, gins are being asked to participate in a short confidential online survey. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/RM9BRWB Gins are in constant contact with their producers and generally have a good idea as to the next [...]
Employers using foreign workers under the H2A program are required to pay a wage at least equal to the Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR). This wage rate is currently $13.03/hr in the state of Texas. The Texas AEWR will increase to $13.88/hr on December 29, 2021. All H2A employees must be paid a minimum wage [...]
Two gins on the Gulf Coast were visited by Department of Labor Wage and Hour inspectors during this season. In addition, two gins have been inspected in West Texas this week. There is a good chance more gins will be inspected in West Texas. If any W&H inspectors have contacted your gin, please let us [...]
We have been getting a lot of questions about H-2A workers recently. In addition, we are in the process of wrapping up two Wage and Hour Inspections from earlier in this ginning season. It still remains to be seen whether the inspectors will show up in West Texas, but if they do, it is important [...]
As we reported earlier, lawsuits challenging the OSHA Covid Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) have been filed all over the country. The ETS is currently being stayed due to a ruling from the 5th Circuit Court (New Orleans). Earlier this week, the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation assigned all the ETS litigation to the 6th Circuit [...]
TCGA member gins have experienced several significant accidents in the past few days. In response, the trust has issued a safety alert in English and Spanish. Please click the links to access these alerts. It is critical that we continue to emphasize lockout/tagout to our workers, and to be sure they are implementing it while [...]
