Melissa A. Bailey

Melissa litigates significant OSHA enforcement matters and also represents many employers during OSHA inspections that followed fatalities or catastrophes. Her experience includes the following:

• OSHA issued two willful citations alleging violations of the construction trenching standards, and also sent out a press release claiming that the employer was “indifferent” to the hazards faced by its employees. After significant discovery and a hearing, the Administrative Law Judge issued a decision vacating one citation and amending the other citation to reflect a serious rather than willful violation. The total penalty was reduced from $140,000 to $7000.
• After a fatal accident, OSHA issued a citation that would have required the company and its industry to abate the alleged hazard by using a completely different type of equipment, which would have cost millions of dollars. Following the hearing, the Administrative Law Judge vacated the citation item.
• OSHA issued significant citations and a press release, and placed the employer at issue into the Severe Violators Enforcement Program (“SVEP”). The company engaged in months of substantive settlement negotiations with OSHA, and OSHA ultimately agreed to amend the citations such that the employer was no longer included in SVEP and abatement obligations were minimized.
• Following an amputation, Maryland Occupational Safety and Health cited a major grain handling/food processing company for violations of OSHA’s Grain Handling standard. After a six-day trial, the Administrative Law Judge vacated the citations issued under the Grain Handling standard. The case was one of the first to test a controversial OSHA enforcement policy regarding the use of sweep augers in grain bins.
• OSHA cited a large employer engaged in trimming trees and vegetation around electrical lines for a violation of the Logging standard.; The inspection resulted from an employee fatality. The company argued that the standard was inapplicable. After significant discovery, including multiple depositions, OSHA withdrew all citation items.
• Tennessee OSHA cited a chemical manufacturing facility for multiple violations of its Process Safety Management standard after an explosion resulted in an employee fatality. Based on additional facts presented during discovery, the government withdrew all but one of the citations.
• An employee who was terminated alleges that the employer retaliated against him for raising safety complaints under the Surface Transportation Assistance Act. Following a two-day trial, the Administrative Law Judge found that the employee was properly terminated.
• OSHA conducted an audit of three years of injury and illness data, including OSHA 300 Logs and associated documents, for a large oil field servicing company. Although OSHA did issue citations, the company was very pro-active throughout the investigation, and as a result, liability was minimized.
• OSHA cited an electric utility for multiple violations following an accident that resulted in two fatalities. After extensive discovery and settlement negotiations, OSHA withdrew most of the citation items and cut the penalty by almost 50 percent.
• After an explosion that resulted in national news coverage, OSHA inspected an employer that provided industrial gases to customers. The company actively asserted its defenses during the inspection, and OSHA did not issue any citations.

Melissa has conducted accident investigations and root cause analyses under attorney-client privilege. She has also assisted clients in conducting complex industrial hygiene investigations, including two corporate-wide assessments of the risks of exposures to lead, cadmium and other health hazards.

Education

• LL.M., Labor and Employment Law, Georgetown University Law Center, 1995
• J.D., Kansas University Law School, 1994
• B.A., Northwestern University, 1990

Admission to Practice

• District of Columbia
• Kansas

• National Federation of Independent Business Legal Center (Board Member, Legal Advisory Board)
• District of Columbia Bar
• American Bar Association (Former Employer Co-Chair, Occupational Safety and Health Committee)
• Kansas Bar Association

• Ogletree Deakins Webinar – “OSHA’s Severe Violator Enforcement Program: Smart Safety Strategies for Employers” – December 11, 2024
• Workplace Safety Symposium (moderator) – “Effective Collaboration When Navigating OSHA Inspections, Root Cause Investigations, and Tricky Compliance Issues” – New Orleans – December 5, 2024
• Workplace Safety Symposium (moderator) – “Effective OSHA Litigation With Judge Rooney: Strategies for Defense and Mediation” – New Orleans – December 5, 2024
• Workplace Safety Symposium (moderator) – “What to Expect From Washington” – New Orleans – December 5, 2024
• Corporate Labor and Employment Counsel Exclusive – “Managing High-Stakes Litigation and Audits—Without Losing the House” – Amelia Island – November 14, 2024
• Ogletree Deakins Podcast – “Safety Perspectives From the Dallas Region: OSHA’s Proposed Heat Illness Prevention Rule” – August 6, 2024
• Ogletree Deakins Workplace Strategies Seminar – “The Wacky World of Employment Law” – Washington, D.C. – May 2, 2024
• Workplace Safety Symposium – “Our “Real” OSHA Trial: You Be the Judge!” – Austin – December 8, 2023
• Workplace Safety Symposium – “Employer Expectations of Management and Supervisors Before, During, and After an OSHA Inspection” – Austin – December 7, 2023
• Workplace Safety Symposium – “The Heat Is On: An Interactive Session on Managing Heat Illness Incidents” – Austin – December 7, 2023
• Workplace Safety Symposium – “The Latest on Workplace Safety Legislation, Policy, and Enforcement” – Austin – December 7, 2023
• Workplace Safety Symposium – “Introduction to Our “Real” OSHA Trial: You Be the Judge!” – Austin – December 6, 2023
• Ogletree Deakins Webinar – “OSHA Midyear Update: Where Is OSHA Focusing Its Resources and What Does This Mean for Employers?” – July 27, 2023
• Ogletree Deakins Workplace Strategies Seminar – “The Wacky World of Employment Law” – San Diego – May 11, 2023
• Workplace Safety Symposium – “Wacky OSHA Cases” – Tampa – December 8, 2022
• Workplace Safety Symposium – “Workplace Safety Legislative, Policy, and Regulatory Developments” – Tampa – December 8, 2022
• Workplace Safety Symposium – “Multi-Employer and Joint Employer Worksites” – Tampa – December 7, 2022
• Ogletree Deakins Workplace Strategies Seminar – “OSHA’s Laser Focus on Heat Illness: What Does It Mean for Employers and How Can Your Company Avoid Citations?” – Phoenix – May 5, 2022
• Ogletree Deakins Workplace Strategies Seminar – “The Wacky World of Employment Law” – Phoenix – May 5, 2022
• Ogletree Deakins Webinar – “OSHA Hour: What Does OSHA’s New Laser Focus on Heat Illness Mean for Employers?” – April 28, 2022
• Ogletree Deakins Webinar – “SCOTUS Hits Pause on OSHA COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing ETS: What’s Next for Employers?” – January 19, 2022
• Corporate Labor and Employment Counsel Exclusive – “OSHA’s New COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standard, and the Federal Contractor and CMS Vaccine Mandates: What In-House Counsel Need to Know” – Amelia Island – November 11, 2021
• Corporate Labor and Employment Counsel Exclusive – “Playing It Safe: OSHA Compliance in a New World” – Amelia Island – November 11, 2021
• Ogletree Deakins Webinar – “It’s Here—OSHA Issues COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing Emergency Temporary Standard ” – November 9, 2021
• Ogletree Deakins Webinar – “OSHA Hour: COVID-19 ETS Update —Where Does It Stand Now?” – September 16, 2021
• Ogletree Deakins Webinar – “OSHA Hour: Heat Stress and OSHA—What Employers Need to Know” – August 5, 2021
• Ogletree Deakins Workplace Strategies Seminar – “New COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standard: What Will It Require of Employers?” – Austin – June 25, 2021
• Ogletree Deakins Workplace Strategies Seminar – “The Wacky World of Employment Law” – Austin – June 25, 2021
• Ogletree Deakins Webinar – “OSHA Hour: Will Agency Guidelines on COVID-19 Vaccinations Impact OSHA Recordkeeping and Return-to-Work Plans—and What Will Be in OSHA’s Emergency Temporary Standard?” – April 29, 2021
• Virtual Workplace Safety Symposium – “More Developments Under the General Duty Clause” – December 3, 2020
• California Workplace Safety: Solving the Perplexing Puzzle – “Cal/OSHA and COVID-19: Recording and Reporting Workplace Illnesses” – September 16, 2020
• Virtual COVID-19 Employment Litigation: Prevention and Defense Strategies Seminar – “Safety First: An Update on OSHA Citations and Litigation” – September 10, 2020
• Ogletree Deakins Webinar – “OSHA Hour: Virginia’s COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standard” – July 30, 2020
• Ogletree Deakins Workplace Strategies Virtual Conference – “OSHA Guidance, CDC Guidelines, and State Executive Orders—Oh My: What Do I Have to Follow, When, and Where?” – May 14, 2020
• Ogletree Deakins Webinar – “OSHA Hour: The Latest COVID-19 Workplace Safety and Health Updates” – May 7, 2020
• Ogletree Deakins Webinar – “COVID-19 Update for Employers: Focus on OSHA Guidance and Workplace Health and Safety Issues” – March 30, 2020
• Ogletree Deakins Webinar – “COVID-19 Update for Employers: Focus on OSHA Guidance and Workplace Health and Safety Issues” – March 24, 2020
• Workplace Safety Symposium – “OSHA’s Use and Misuse of the General Duty Clause: How to Avoid and Combat Citations” – New Orleans – December 5, 2019
• Corporate Labor and Employment Counsel Exclusive – “Pop Quiz—Corporate Labor and Employment Law Exclusive Style” – New Orleans – November 15, 2019
• Ogletree Deakins Workplace Strategies Seminar – “The Wacky World of Employment Law” – Las Vegas – May 2, 2019
• Ogletree Deakins Workplace Safety Symposium – “Process Safety Management: Management of Change is More Than a Term of Art” – Nashville – December 5, 2018
• Corporate Labor and Employment Counsel Exclusive – “Pop Quiz – Labor and Employment Exclusive Style” – La Quinta – November 8, 2018
• Ogletree Deakins Workplace Strategies Seminar – “The Wacky World of Employment Law” – Phoenix – May 10, 2018
• Labor and Employment Counsel Exclusive – “Today’s OSHA: Keeping Up and Catching Up With Workplace Health and Safety Developments” – Boca Raton – November 10, 2017
• Ogletree Deakins Workplace Strategies Seminar – “Panel Discussion: It’s Going to Be Huge! The Trump Administration and Employers” – San Diego – May 4, 2017
• Ogletree Deakins Workplace Strategies Seminar – “The Wacky World of Employment Law” – San Diego – May 4, 2017
• Food Marketing Institute – “OSHA’s Enforcement Crackdown: What does it mean for the retail grocery industry?” – Phoenix – March 2013
• International Oil Mill Superintendents Association – “OSHA: The New Risk Factors” – Okoboji – June 2012
• National Grain and Feed Association – “Strategies for Minimizing OSHA Liability” – Indianapolis – June 2012
• Ogletree Deakins Webinar – “Safety Incentives Under Attack – Is Your Plan Vulnerable?” – May 2012
• American Road and Transportation Builders Association – “DC/OSHA Update” – Washington, DC – January 2012
• National Grain and Feed Association – “The New Risk Factor for Grain, Feed and Processing Facility Managers” – San Diego – June 2011
• Edison Electric Institute/American Gas Association – “Employee Free Choice Act – State of Play” – Arlington – June 15, 2010
• Associated General Contractors – “Pandemic Planning: Are you prepared?” – Washington, D.C. – April 16, 2010
• American Bar Association/OSHA Law Subcommittee – “OSHA Update: Shoring the Foundations” – San Diego – March 10, 2010
• South Carolina Society for Human Resource Management – “Preparing for the 2010 Agenda” – Greenville – February 23, 2010
• Organization Resource Counselors, Occupational Safety and Health Lawyers Group – “Legislative Update” – Washington, D.C. – November 10, 2009
• American Gas Association Safety Leadership Summit – “Minimizing OSHA Liability” – Miami – November 11, 2008
• American Bar Association Section of Labor and Employment Law – “Occupational Safety and Health Law Fundamentals” – Denver – September 17, 2008

• October 25, 2024 – Law360 – “After Chevron: The Future Of OSHA Enforcement Litigation”
• 2008 – ABS Consulting, Government Institutes – “Occupational Safety and Health Law Handbook, Recordkeeping Chapter”

• October 2024 – RANE – “Extreme Heat: Physical Risks to Workers and Ensuring Occupational Safety Compliance”
• January 14, 2022 – Fortune – “What the Supreme Court strike-down of Biden’s vaccine mandate means for employers”
• January 13, 2022 – HR Dive – “SCOTUS upholds stay on OSHA’s vaccine mandate”
• June 21, 2021 – Bloomberg Law – “Biden Boosts OSHA Virus Enforcement as Vaccines Herald Changes”
• May 26, 2021 – SHRM Online – “Does OSHA Require Employers to Record Vaccine Reactions?”
• November 13, 2018 – SHRM Online – “OSHA Clarifies when Post-Accident Drug Testing Is Permitted”
• March 28, 2018 – EHS Today – “OSHA Cracks Down on Failure to File Electronic Injury Reports”
• February 19, 2018 – Greater Baton Rouge Business Report – “OSHA regulations aren’t changing much under Trump, but manufacturers may have a different kind of relationship with the agency”
• September 2017 – Bloomberg BNA – “Builders Get 30-Day Break-In Period for Silica Rule”
• June 19, 2017 – Bloomberg BNA – “Defibrillators Can Save Lives, but Will Employers Take the Leap?”
• December 1, 2016 – Aggregate Research – “Judge denies injunction against OSHA anti-retaliation rule”
• November 2, 2016 – SHRM Online – “Controversial Provisions Added to OSHA’s Proposed Modernization Updates”
• July 26, 2016 – SHRM Online – “OSHA Delays Controversial Anti-Retaliation Enforcement”
• May 12, 2016 – Law360 – “5 Employer Worries Raised By OSHA’s New Injury Rule”
• March 9, 2016 – Bloomberg BNA – “OSHA Officials Stress Enforcement at ABA Meeting”
• January 13, 2016 – Bloomberg BNA Occupational Safety & Health Reporter – “No Surprises in 2016 OSHA Chief Michael Says”
• November 30, 2015 – Bloomberg BNA – “Law Firms Expect More Business When OSHA Fines Rise”
• November 9, 2015 – Bloomberg BNA Occupational Safety & Health Daily – “Violation Penalty Increases Likely for State OSHA Plans”
• February 17, 2015 – BNA Daily Labor Report – “New OSHA Reporting Rule Enforcement Procedures Raise Employers’ Concerns”
• June 13, 2014 – Law360 – “Female Powerbrokers Q&A Ogletree Deakins' Melissa Bailey”
• May 9, 2014 – SHRM.org – “How to React When a Union Rep Shows Up with OSHA”
• April 23, 2014 – Law360 – “Gender Equality A No-Brainer For Employment Firms”
• March 13, 2014 – BNA Construction Labor Report – “Employer Attorneys Say OSHA Inspectors Need Better Training on Combustible Dust”
• February 27, 2014 – Law360 – “8 Tips For Employers When OSHA Comes Calling”
• October 29, 2013 – Thomson Reuters – “SeaWorld Appeal Could Force Taming of its Popular Orca Shows After Trainer's Death”
• March 17, 2011 – BNA's Occupational Safety and Health Reporter – “Michaels Defends Use of Press Releases to Spur Employers to Eliminate Hazards”
• January 1, 2011 – Law360 – “Labor and Employment Regulation to Watch in 2011”
• November 25, 2010 – BNA's Occupational Safety & Health Reporter – “Landrieu Bill to Reduce Burden on Small Business Could Affect Rules, Analysts Say”
• April 8, 2010 – BNA's Occupational Safety & Health Reporter – “Business Voices Objections to OSHA's Draft Severe Violators Enforcement Program”
• October 22, 2009 – BNA's Occupational Safety and Health Reporter – “Embalming Fluid Maker Fined $138,000 for Formaldehyde Exposure, PSM Violations”
• June 4, 2009 – BNA's Occupational Safety and Health Reporter – “OSHA Prepares National Emphasis Program for Chemical Manufacturers, Sources Say”
• May 11, 2009 – SHRM.org – “Most Frequent Swine Flu Legal Questions Answered”
• March 5, 2009 – BNA's Occupational Safety and Health Reporter – “House Democrats May Soon Introduce New Version of the OSHA Reform Act”
• February 19, 2009 – BNA's Occupational Safety and Health Reporter – “President Obama Signs Stimulus Bill With Increased Funding for OSHA”
• February 12, 2009 – BNA's Occupational Safety and Health Reporter – “Senate Changes to Stimulus Package Reduce Funding for OSHA, Safety Programs”
• January 29, 2009 – BNA's Occupational Safety and Health Reporter – “House Stimulus Bill Contains New Appropriations for OSHA, NIOSH”
• January 8, 2009 – BNA's Occupational Safety and Health Reporter – “Safety Advocates Applaud Solis Nomination As Positive Step to Protect Worker Safety”
• August 21, 2008 – BNA's Occupational Safety and Health Reporter – “OSHA Targets 40 Specific Industries In Revised Emphasis Program for Lead”
• May 12, 2008 – SHRM.org – “Most Frequent Swine Flu Legal Questions Answered”
• 2007 – National Public Radio's Market Watch – “OSHA enforcement trends”
• July 2, 1997 – BNA's Occupational Safety and Health Reporter – “Watchman Defends Safety Program Rule; Employer Groups Cite Enforcement Concerns”

• BTI Client Service All Star (2023)
• Chambers USA Leading Lawyer – Occupational Safety and Health (2022, 2023, 2024)
• Named by Lawyers Weekly USA as one the “Ten Lawyers Who Stood Out” (2002)