High-risk crisis counsel for OSHA-driven incidents
Before, during, and after the moments that define enterprise exposure
A serious incident isn’t just a legal issue – it’s a business disruption, with escalating regulatory, litigation, and reputational risk. DLA Piper supports companies through major environmental, workplace safety, and operational crises – managing high-stakes Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) exposure with speed, discipline, and a defensible approach.
OSHA guidance for businesses
Our work focuses on high-profile incidents involving fatalities, fires, explosions, chemical releases, and system failures that can quickly escalate into multi-agency enforcement, civil and criminal-adjacent exposure, investor scrutiny, and reputational risk. We support companies where OSHA-triggered events overlap with environmental obligations, emergency response requirements, and public impact.
Our team guides you across the full crisis lifecycle – before, during, and after critical incidents – integrating OSHA strategy into a broader environmental and catastrophic events response, including crisis management, investigations, and enforcement defense. We enable you to act early to preserve defenses, stabilize operations, and limit downstream exposure
Pre-crisis planning
During the crisis
Post-crisis
Awards and recognitions
Experience: Occupational Safety, Health, and Crisis Management
Our team has developed and managed comprehensive OSHA and EHS programs for national companies with multi-site operations and histories of inspections and citations – integrating controls designed to withstand post-incident scrutiny.
We have led internal investigations and defended enforcement actions involving recordkeeping, hazard communication, serious injuries, and fatalities – including matters involving OSHA emergency action plan template deficiencies – achieving reduced or rescinded penalties.
We have advised on workplace fatalities, catastrophic fires, explosions, and chemical releases, coordinating OSHA response with environmental, civil, and criminal-adjacent exposure. We also assist clients and trade associations engaging OSHA on regulatory initiatives shaping catastrophic event response and enforcement outcomes.
