Justice, Labor Depts, Will Double-Team On Workplace Hazards

The Departments of Justice and Labor have signed a Memorandum of Understanding that will establish coordination for criminal prosecutions of workplace violations. “Industry can expect incidents that result in serious worker injury or death to be the subject of significant federal scrutiny where covered by this initiative,” says an update from Sidley & Austin. The MOU is expected to stiffen enforcement of three laws: the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act), the Mine Safety and Health Act (Mine Act) and the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act (Migrant Worker Act).