OSHA Issues New COVID-19 National Emphasis Plan and Interim Enforcement Response Plan
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued two new documents on March 12, 2021 concerning COVID-19 and workplace enforcement.
The first is a COVID-19 National Emphasis Program (NEP) focusing OSHA enforcement efforts…
Small Business Labor Safety (OSHA/MSHA) Roundtable – March 19
Next Small Business Labor Safety (OSHA/MSHA) Roundtable
Friday, March 19, 2021, 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 a.m. (Eastern Time)
Via Teams Webinar
We have scheduled the next Small Business Labor Safety (OSHA/MSHA) Roundtable for Friday,…
Small Business Facts: Business Ownership Demographics
Business ownership is diverse, but women, African Americans, and Hispanics tend to own more non-employer firms and less employer firms. Additionally, younger owners tend to own non-employer firms. With the Census Bureau’s new data series,…
EPA Seeks Comments on Proposed Revisions to the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR 5) for…
On March 11, 2021, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a notice of proposed Revisions to the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule for Public Water Systems under the Safe Drinking Water Act. The proposed rule would…
APHIS Reopens Comments on Whether to Regulate Movement of Animals Modified or Developed by Genetic…
On March 8, 2021, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) reopened the comment period on an advance notice of proposed rulemaking to solicit comments and feedback on whether to establish a…
Effects of Small Loans on Bank and Small Business Growth
Since 1980, the number of commercial banks has dropped from 14,400 to 4,600. Given the decrease in commercial banking options, it is important to understand the long-term trends of banking industry dynamics by size of bank, as well as the…
DOI Seeks Comments on Proposed Rule to List Arizona Eryngo as an Endangered Species and Establish…
On March 4, 2021, the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) published a proposed rule to list the Arizona Eryngo as an endangered species and designate areas for critical habitat. The agency is proposing to list…
The Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Small Businesses
In March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic hit the United States, causing illness, death, and widespread economic devastation. A new issue brief from the Office of Advocacy, “The Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Small Businesses,”…
OSHA Proposes Revisions to Hazard Communication Standard
On February 16, 2021, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) published a notice of proposed rulemaking to modify its Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) to conform to the latest revisions to the United Nations’ Globally…
January-February Small Business Advocate
The Office of Advocacy has released the latest edition of its newsletter, “The Small Business Advocate,” Vol. 40, No. 1. If you would like to subscribe to our newsletter, you may do so here.