Arkansas Real Estate Commission Proposes Rule Amendments Incorporating 2025 Acts 392, 559, and 835
The Arkansas Real Estate Commission proposes amendments to incorporate changes required by Acts 392, 559, and 835 of 2025. Written comments will be accepted through May 11, 2026. A public hearing is scheduled for May 12, 2026 at 9:00 AM at 612 South Summit, Little Rock, Arkansas.
NY DOL Headquarters Renamed Frances Perkins Building, Marks 125th Anniversary
The New York State Department of Labor announced the renaming of its Albany headquarters to the Frances Perkins Building in honor of the first woman to serve in a U.S. cabinet position. Frances Perkins served as U.S. Secretary of Labor from 1933 to 1945 and helped shape the Social Security Act and Fair Labor Standards Act. The designation coincides with the Department's 125th anniversary and was formalized through an Executive Order signed by Governor Hochul on Perkins' birthday.
29 CFR 1910.25 Stairways Safety Requirements
OSHA published 29 CFR 1910.25 establishing binding stairway safety requirements for general industry employers. The standard covers standard, spiral, ship, and alternating tread-type stairs, specifying requirements for handrails, riser heights (maximum 9.5 inches), tread depth (minimum 9.5 inches), stair width (minimum 22 inches), and vertical clearance (minimum 6 feet 8 inches). Employers must ensure stairs support at least five times the normal anticipated live load or a minimum concentrated load of 1,000 pounds at any point.
OSHA Lead Exposure Standard 29 CFR 1926.62 for Construction
OSHA's standard 29 CFR 1926.62 establishes permissible exposure limits for lead in construction work. The PEL is set at 50 µg/m³ as an 8-hour time-weighted average, with an action level of 30 µg/m³. The standard covers demolition, renovation, removal of lead-containing materials, new construction, and lead cleanup operations.
Recording and Reporting Occupational Injuries Standard (29 CFR 1904)
OSHA maintains 29 CFR Part 1904, the Recording and Reporting Occupational Injuries and Illnesses Standard, which establishes employer obligations to record work-related injuries and illnesses on OSHA forms 300, 300A, and 301. The standard includes partial exemptions for employers with 10 or fewer employees and establishments in certain low-hazard industries. Subpart C sets recording criteria and forms requirements, while Subpart D covers additional recordkeeping obligations including annual summaries, retention periods, and employee access to records.
OSHA 1910.1025 Lead Exposure Standard
OSHA's standard 29 CFR 1910.1025 establishes permissible exposure limit (PEL) for occupational lead at 50 µg/m³ as an 8-hour time-weighted average, with an action level of 30 µg/m³ triggering monitoring and control requirements. The standard applies to general industry employers and requires exposure monitoring, engineering controls, respirator use, and medical surveillance for affected workers.
OSHA Standard 1910.333 - Selection and Use of Work Practices for Electrical Safety
OSHA Standard 1910.333 establishes requirements for electrical safety-related work practices for general industry. The standard requires employers to deenergize live parts before employees work on or near them, unless deenergizing introduces additional hazards or is infeasible due to equipment design or operational limitations. When working on deenergized parts, employers must implement lockout/tagout procedures in accordance with specified requirements.
1910.95 Occupational Noise Exposure Standard
OSHA Standard 1910.95 establishes permissible noise exposure limits and hearing conservation requirements. Employers must implement feasible administrative or engineering controls when noise exceeds Table G-16 levels, and provide personal protective equipment when controls fail. A hearing conservation program is required when 8-hour TWA reaches 85 decibels.
Asbestos Regulations for Construction Work, 29 CFR 1926.1101
OSHA Standard 29 CFR 1926.1101 regulates asbestos exposure in construction work as defined under 29 CFR 1910.12(b). The standard covers demolition and salvage of structures with asbestos, removal or encapsulation of asbestos-containing materials, construction and renovation work involving ACM, installation of asbestos-containing products, emergency cleanup, and disposal activities. The standard defines three work classifications (Class I, II, III) and establishes that coverage is based on the nature of work operations involving asbestos exposure.
Control of Hazardous Energy (Lockout/Tagout) - 29 CFR 1910.147
OSHA's lockout/tagout standard (29 CFR 1910.147) establishes minimum performance requirements for controlling hazardous energy during servicing and maintenance of machines and equipment. The standard protects employees from unexpected energization, startup, or release of stored energy that could cause injury. The regulation applies to general industry employers whose employees perform servicing or maintenance on machines with hazardous energy sources.
OSHA Permit-Required Confined Spaces Safety Standard
OSHA Permit-Required Confined Spaces Safety Standard
Fall Protection Systems and Falling Object Protection - 29 CFR 1910.29
OSHA 29 CFR 1910.29 establishes mandatory fall protection and falling object protection requirements for employers across general industry. The standard specifies guardrail system specifications including top rail height of 42 inches (±3 inches), midrail installation requirements, and structural load testing standards (200 lb downward/outward force for top rails, 150 lb for intermediate members). Employers must provide and install all required fall protection before employees begin work in areas necessitating such protection.
OSHA Standard 1910.134: Respiratory Protection Requirements
OSHA Standard 1910.134 establishes respiratory protection requirements for general industry, shipyards, marine terminals, longshoring, and construction. The standard requires employers to prevent atmospheric contamination through engineering controls first, and provide appropriate respirators when controls are not feasible. Employers must establish and maintain a written respiratory protection program meeting specified requirements.
COVID-19 Healthcare Emergency Temporary Standard 1910.502
OSHA codified 29 CFR 1910.502, an Emergency Temporary Standard establishing COVID-19 workplace safety requirements for healthcare settings. The standard applies to settings where employees provide healthcare or healthcare support services, with specific exemptions for first aid by non-licensed providers, retail pharmacies, screened ambulatory care settings, fully vaccinated hospital settings, home healthcare with screening, and telehealth outside direct patient care. The standard addresses employee vaccination status, screening protocols, and accommodations for employees unable to be vaccinated due to medical conditions or religious beliefs.
OSHA Updates National Emphasis Program for Outdoor and Indoor Heat Hazards
OSHA has updated its National Emphasis Program for Outdoor and Indoor Heat-Related Hazards, originally issued in April 2022. The revised program uses OSHA and Bureau of Labor Statistics data from 2022-2025 to direct inspection priorities to 55 high-risk industries in indoor and outdoor work settings. The update removes outdated background information, eliminates the former numerical inspection goal, and introduces reorganized appendices for evaluating heat programs and citation guidance.
OSHA Updates National Emphasis Program for Outdoor and Indoor Heat-Related Hazards, Targets 55 High-Risk Industries
OSHA has updated its National Emphasis Program for Outdoor and Indoor Heat-Related Hazards, originally issued in April 2022. The revised program uses OSHA and Bureau of Labor Statistics data from 2022-2025 to direct inspection priorities to 55 high-risk industries with high rates of heat-related illness or prior heat-related citations. The update removes outdated background information, eliminates the former numerical inspection goal, and introduces two reorganized appendices for evaluating heat programs and citation guidance. The program is effective immediately and will remain in effect for five years.
USERRA and Veterans' Preference Eligibility Information Collection Request
The Department of Labor (DOL) Veterans' Employment and Training Service (VETS) has submitted an information collection request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review under the Paperwork Reduction Act. The collection covers complaints under USERRA (38 U.S.C. 4322) for reemployment rights violations and the Veterans Employment Opportunities Act (VEOA) of 1998 (5 U.S.C. 3330a-3330b) for veterans' preference law violations. Public comments on the burden estimates and information collection requirements are invited.
DOL BLS Occupational Employment Statistics Survey Information Collection OMB PRA Review
The Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics has submitted an information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget for review under the Paperwork Reduction Act. The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey collects data on detailed occupational employment and wages from establishments including private employers, schools, hospitals, and government agencies. Public comments are invited on the necessity, accuracy, and burden of the collection.
SD DOL Virtual Apprenticeship Series, April 16th
The South Dakota Department of Labor & Regulation announces a free virtual Apprenticeship Knowledge Series on Thursday, April 16, 2026 at 11:30 a.m. CST via Microsoft Teams. The session will feature the Start Today SD team discussing the value of Registered Apprenticeship Programs as a workforce solution. Topics include expanding opportunity, strengthening talent pipelines, recognizing apprentices, and upcoming statewide activities including the Apprenticeship Summit. Registration is required.
Representative's Fee Black Lung Claim Proceeding Dept of Labor
The Department of Labor Workers Compensation Programs Office has finalized a rule addressing representative's fees in black lung claim proceedings. The rule establishes procedures governing fees awarded to attorneys and other representatives who assist coal miners in pursuing black lung benefits claims under the relevant federal program.
Wildland Fire Pay Categories for Federal Employees Under USDA and DOI
OPM has published a proposed rulemaking to establish new pay categories for wildland fire federal employees under USDA Forest Service and DOI Bureau of Land Management. The document, docketed as OPM-2026-0199, seeks public comment on pay flexibilities, retention incentives, and premium pay provisions specific to wildland fire suppression activities. Federal agencies employing wildland fire personnel may be affected by proposed changes to compensation structures.
OPM RIF Appeal FedScope Data Pull
OPM released a FedScope data pull related to Reduction in Force (RIF) appeals on April 9, 2025. The document is available as a PDF download from regulations.gov under docket OPM-2025-0239. No new regulatory requirements or compliance obligations are created by this data release.
OPM Uniform Allowance Cost Analysis and Market Review
OPM has published a uniform allowance cost analysis and market review document (OPM-2026-0068-0001) seeking public input on uniform allowance rates for federal employees. The document appears to analyze current costs and market conditions for uniform allowances provided to certain federal workers in positions requiring uniforms. OPM is accepting comments through the regulations.gov portal.