Key Considerations for Post-Incident Media Response
Posted on May 6, 2016 in Construction, Energy/Environmental, Investigations, Process Safety, Product Liability, Transportation | Comments Off on Key Considerations for Post-Incident Media Response
In today’s world, news of a corporate disaster or fatal injury travels fast. In less than a minute from the time an incident occurs, media phone calls begin. There are countless recent examples of how companies have botched initial post-incident communications in such a way that their actions have led to devastating consequences, from inviting political attacks or litigation to...
PHMSA Announces Proposed Rule Addressing Natural Gas Pipeline Safety
Posted on Apr 8, 2016 in Energy/Environmental, Investigations, Process Safety | Comments Off on PHMSA Announces Proposed Rule Addressing Natural Gas Pipeline Safety
The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) announced a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that would update critical safety requirements for natural gas transmission pipelines. Sutherland attorneys Paul Forshay, Michael Stosser, and Allison Speaker authored the following Legal Alert describing the rule. Comments on the rule are due by June 7, 2016 PHMSA has issued...
Department of Transportation Investigating Shippers of Crude Oil by Truck For Sampling and Testing Programs
Posted on Mar 31, 2016 in Energy/Environmental, Process Safety, Transportation | Comments Off on Department of Transportation Investigating Shippers of Crude Oil by Truck For Sampling and Testing Programs
In the last few months, the U.S. Department of Transportation (“DOT”) has initiated an enforcement investigation into whether commodity traders who contract to ship crude oil by truck maintain a written sampling and testing program for these activities. The requirement to maintain a sampling and testing program was implemented in a DOT final rule issued in May 2015, which also set out...
OSHA Requiring Engineering Controls To Minimize Workers’ Silica Dust Exposure
Posted on Mar 25, 2016 in Construction, Energy/Environmental, OSHA, Process Safety | Comments Off on OSHA Requiring Engineering Controls To Minimize Workers’ Silica Dust Exposure
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued a final rule targeting silica dust exposure. The rule reduces the permissible exposure limit (PEL) for respirable crystalline silica to 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air, averaged over an 8-hour shift. The rule also requires employers to use engineering controls to limit worker exposure, provide respirators when...
Drilling Site Owner Has No Responsibility for Subcontractor’s Worker’s Injuries
Posted on Mar 19, 2016 in Construction, Energy/Environmental | Comments Off on Drilling Site Owner Has No Responsibility for Subcontractor’s Worker’s Injuries
The owner of a natural gas drilling site (Company A) won summary judgment against a plaintiff suing for severe injuries incurred after being exposed to significant amounts of dust when a dump truck operated by Company B (a contractor of Company A) allegedly unloaded a large amount of cement too quickly. The U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania concluded...
More Lawsuits Likely After $4.2 Million Verdict in Fracking Case
Posted on Mar 11, 2016 in Energy/Environmental, Product Liability | Comments Off on More Lawsuits Likely After $4.2 Million Verdict in Fracking Case
A Pennsylvania jury awarded a $4.2 million verdict to two families against an oil and gas company for the alleged contamination of their well water caused by fracking operations. The verdict is likely to spur plaintiffs’ attorneys to file additional suits alleging injuries caused by fracking operations around the country. Most of the plaintiffs’ claims in the Pennsylvania...
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