Phillip B. Russell

Phillip is a go-to lawyer when OSHA performs investigations following a fatality or other catastrophic incident. He has handled OSHA matters across many industries, including transportation infrastructure construction, commercial electrical contracting, and other construction industry sectors.

OSHA Withdraws Citation After Fatal Fall

On June 13, 2023, a construction client’s subcontractor’s worker had a fatal fall through an opening in steel grating floor of a major steel erection construction project. The floor had been barricaded and required 100% tie-off for any work performed there and the subcontractor and its worker had been trained on fall protection and the tie-off requirement. Nonetheless, OSHA issued a single-item Serious citation alleging the client violated its fall protection standard. We contested the citation before the US Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. During the litigation, OSHA ultimately agreed to withdraw the citation in its entirety.

Fatal Struck-by Incident Results in No OSHA Citation

Client: Large international construction company with transportation infrastructure projects, including roadways and bridges.

Incident: At one of the client’s largest bridge replacement projects, a worker was fatally injured when he was hit by a dump truck. We deployed our resources to the job site immediately and worked with the client’s executive, project management, and safety teams to plan and prepare for the OSHA on-site inspection. When OSHA’s compliance officer arrived, we represented the client for the on-site inspection, employee interviews, management interviews, and production of requested documents and information.

Impact on the Client and Our Goal: Being struck by trucks or heavy equipment is a major hazard the company’s workers encounter every day, so it was critical to achieve a favorable outcome. An adverse result could have a financial impact, such as millions of dollars in lost revenue and future projects. The fatality was covered widely in the news and immediately caused the company to undergo heightened public scrutiny following other, unrelated issues the company faced on the same project. An adverse outcome on this matter would have had an immeasurable impact on the company’s business and reputation with workers. Our goal was to show OSHA the company had a robust safety program that included rules and procedures, training, compliance, and enforcement components and either avoid or minimize an OSHA citation.

Result: OSHA concluded its six-month inspection of the job site following the fatality. OSHA did not issue a citation. The matter was closed with the best outcome for the client.

Fatal Trenching Accident Results in No OSHA Citation

Client: Foundation construction company specializing in transportation infrastructure and large scale foundations.

Incident: An employee suffered fatal injuries when an 8-foot deep trench collapsed on him. The client engaged Phillip and his team a week after reporting the fatality to OSHA. We worked with the client’s executive, project management, and safety teams to plan and prepare for the continuing OSHA on-site inspection. We represented the client for the on-site inspection, employee interviews, management interviews, and production of requested documents and information.

Impact on the Client and Our Goal: Trenches are a major hazard the company’s workers encounter every day, so it was critical to achieve a favorable outcome.  The company is a relatively young and small, but fast growing, construction company that could have lost work and bidding opportunities with a negative outcome. Our goal was to show OSHA the company had a robust safety program that included rules and procedures, training, compliance, and enforcement components and either avoid or minimize an OSHA citation. We also needed to show the employee had no known reason to be in or near the trench and his supervisor—who was working on a backhoe at the trench—did not see the employee enter the trench.

Result: OSHA closed its inspection file after deciding not to issue a citation because the company had done all it could do to address trenching hazards and avoid this accident from happening. It also determined the supervisor did not know the employee had entered or was nearby the trench. The client’s owner was thrilled with the favorable outcome.

Fatal Fall Accident Results in Limited Citation

Client: A large national construction company.

Fatal Incident: A worker at a bridge demolition project fell and suffered fatal injuries when the final span of the old bridge unexpectedly collapsed. We deployed our resources to the job site immediately and worked with the client’s executive, project management, and safety teams to plan and prepare for OSHA’s on-site inspection. When OSHA’s compliance officer arrived, we represented the client for the on-site inspection, employee interviews, management interviews, and production of requested documents and information.

Impact on the Client and Our Goal: Falls are a major hazard the company’s workers encounter every day, so it was critical to achieve a favorable outcome, which was to avoid a willful citation. An adverse result could negatively affect the company’s reputation with workers and have a financial impact on the company, resulting in millions of dollars in lost revenue. Our goal was to show OSHA the company had a robust safety program that included rules and procedures, training, compliance, and enforcement components and either avoid or minimize an OSHA citation.

Result: The client signed a settlement agreement with OSHA, in which the company agreed to serious (but not willful) violations of two OSHA demolition standards and a reduced penalty. The client was thrilled with the outcome because we avoided a willful classification of any alleged violations. This also helped our client minimize any personal injury liability and regulatory issues.

State Court Summary Judgment Win in Discrimination and Harassment Case

On behalf of a large international client, we obtained summary judgment in state court on a plaintiff’s discrimination and harassment claims. In an outstanding team effort, including attorneys Sarah Kuehnel and Stephanie Generotti, we successfully showed the court the plaintiff’s claims were not supported by any evidence and our client was entitled to summary judgment as a matter of law.  The case involved multiple witness depositions and extensive discovery spanning well over four years. Although state court summary judgments are rare, this outcome shows that the right strategy and team can work.

Other Representative Matters

• 5-person fatality at coal-fired power plant
• 2-person trenching fatality on utility installation project
• 2-person fall fatality at hotel construction project
• Fatal “quicksand” incident at utility construction project
• Fatal fall on bridge demolition project over navigable waterway
• Near fatal electrocution on railway construction project
• Electrocution fatalities involving power lines
• Fall fatalities in commercial and residential construction
• Work zone fatalities in paving, road, and bridge building industry
• Amputations in manufacturing plants

Representative Clients

Acme Barricades, L.C.; Ajax Paving Industries of Florida; All Phase Electric and Maintenance, Inc.; Alliance Power Solutions, Inc.; APG Electric; Avila Golf & Country Club; Boar’s Head Brands; Condotte America, P.E.; Cornerstone Building Brands, Inc.; David Nelson Construction, Inc.; Doyle Electric Services, Inc.; E.M. Enterprises General Contractors, Inc.; General Asphalt Company, Inc.; Hudson Meridian Construction Group; IES Holdings, Inc.; M of Tallahassee, Inc.; Mainline Information Systems, Inc.; Ned Stevens Gutter Cleaning, Inc.; Overseas Shipholding Group, Inc.; PCL Construction Enterprises, Inc.; PODS Enterprises, LLC; Reed TMS Logistics; Ross Security Systems Inc. d/b/a Synergy Florida; S&S Electric Company, Inc.; Southeastern Construction & Maintenance, Inc.; Tampa Tank Inc./Florida Structural Steel; Tucker Paving Inc.; V.E. Whitehurst & Sons, Inc.; Watson Civil Construction, Inc.; Waste Pro USA, Inc.; Woodruff & Sons, Inc.; Yellowstone Landscape, Inc.

Representative Industries

• Transportation construction: paving, road, and bridge
• Building construction and roofing
• Residential construction and roofing
• Landscaping
• Manufacturing
• Transportation and logistics
• Warehousing
• Power generation and distribution
• Grocery and retail

Education

• J.D., Stetson University College of Law, 1995
• M.S., Economics, Georgia Institute of Technology, 1992
• B.S., Management, Georgia Institute of Technology, 1991

Admission to Practice

• Florida
• Georgia
• U.S. District Court, Middle and Northern Districts of Georgia
• U.S. District Court, Middle, Northern and Southern Districts of Florida
• Admitted on a case-by-case basis to various federal and state courts nationwide
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit

Industry Associations

• Academy of Florida Management Attorneys
• Florida Transportation Builders Association (Labor & Employment Counsel; Safety Committee Co-Chair 2016-2020; Safety Committee Member)
• ARTBA Member
• Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC), Florida West Coast Chapter (Outside Counsel)
• IEC National, and numerous IEC Chapters nationwide, including the Florida West Coast, Atlanta, Georgia, and Austin chapters

Bar Association Committees

• American Bar Association (Workplace and Occupational Safety & Health Law Committee; Labor & Employment and Litigation Sections)
• Florida Bar Association (Labor & Employment Section’s Workplace Health and Safety Committee)
• Hillsborough County Bar Association (Labor & Employment Section Co-Chair, 2008-2009)
• Georgia Bar Association (Labor & Employment Section)
• Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC) – West Central Florida Chapter

SHRM

• HR Florida State Council (Outside Counsel)
• Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), and numerous SHRM Chapters, including HR Tampa, Sarasota-Manatee Human Resources Association (SHRA), Big Bend Society for Human Resource Management (BBSHRM), Keys SHRM, Lake Sumter SHRM, HR Association of Broward County (HRABC), and others

Community Service / Charitable Activities

• Autism Inspired Academy, co-founder and scholarship committee member
• Early Learning Coalition of Pinellas County, Inc., Board Member (Governor Appointed) (May 2016-2020)

• Workplace Safety Symposium – “Taking Control of Outcomes: Negotiating OSHA Settlements and Understanding Enhanced Abatement” – New Orleans – December 5, 2024
• Workplace Safety Symposium – “Lockout/Tagout Training and Periodic Inspections” – New Orleans – December 4, 2024
• Ogletree Deakins Podcast – “Safety Basics IV: The General Duty Clause” – July 30, 2024
• Ogletree Deakins Webinar – “Federal OSHA’s New Heat Injury and Illness Prevention Proposed Rule” – July 17, 2024
• Ogletree Deakins Podcast – “Dirty Steel-Toe Boots, Episode 23: Preparing for an OSHA Informal Settlement Conference” – June 5, 2024
• Ogletree Deakins Webinar – “OSH Law Primer, Part IV: The General Duty Clause” – May 30, 2024
• Ogletree Deakins Podcast – “Dirty Steel-Toe Boots, Episode 22: The OSHA Buzz for 2024” – January 30, 2024
• Workplace Safety Symposium – “The Top 10 Workplace Safety Mistakes Employers Make (But Don’t Have To)” – Austin – December 7, 2023
• American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) – 2023 Northeastern & Southern Regional Meeting – “OSHA and Labor Law Update” – Fort Lauderdale – November 2, 2023
• Ogletree Deakins Podcast – “Dirty Steel-Toe Boots, Episode 21: Trials Before the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission” – October 23, 2023
• Ogletree Deakins Podcast – “Dirty Steel-Toe Boots, Episode 20: Marijuana in the Workplace” – October 20, 2023
• Ogletree Deakins Podcast – “Dirty Steel-Toe Boots, Episode 19: The Worker Walkaround Representative Designation Process” – September 2, 2023
• Ogletree Deakins Podcast – “Dirty Steel-Toe Boots, Episode 18: OSHA’s Multi-Employer Citation Policy” – July 20, 2023
• Florida Transportation Builders’ Association, Inc. Webinar (moderator) – “Florida’s New Immigration Laws” – June 28, 2023
• Ogletree Deakins Webinar – “Wildfire Smoke and Heat Illness Prevention: A Timely Workplace Safety and Health Update” – June 15, 2023
• Ogletree Deakins Podcast – “Dirty Steel-Toe Boots, Episode 17: Heat Illness, OSHA’s National Emphasis Program—The Heat Is On” – June 13, 2023
• American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) Safety 2023 Conference + Expo – “How OSHA Regulates Multiemployer and Joint Employer Worksites” – San Antonio – June 5, 2023
• Ogletree Deakins Podcast – “Workplace Strategies Watercooler 2023: Neurodiversity at Work—Innovative Practices for Integrating Uniquely Talented Individuals” – June 5, 2023
• Workplace Strategies Seminar – “Neurodiversity at Work: Innovative Practices for Integrating Uniquely Talented Individuals” – San Diego – May 12, 2023
• Florida Transportation Builders’ Association (FTBA) Emerging Leaders Academy – “OSHA Enforcement and Inspections for Project Managers” – March 22, 2023
• Ogletree Deakins Podcast – “Dirty Steel-Toe Boots, Episode 16: Investigations and the OSH Act’s Whistleblower Provision” – March 2, 2023
• Ogletree Deakins Podcast – “Dirty Steel-Toe Boots, Episode 15: OSHA’s Expansion of the Instance-by-Instance Policy” – February 16, 2023
• 2023 Florida Transportation Builders’ Association (FTBA) Construction Conference – “OSHA Update: Florida Transportation Construction Industry” – Orlando – February 7, 2023
• Ogletree Deakins Podcast – “Dirty Steel-Toe Boots, Episode 14: Nonmanagement Access During an OSHA Inspection” – February 2, 2023
• Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC) 2023 Business Summit – “OSHA Update: Inspections, Citations, and Enforcement” – Nashville – January 31, 2023
• Ogletree Deakins Podcast – “Dirty Steel-Toe Boots, Episode 13: Kicking Off 2023 With an OSHA and Workplace Safety Forecast” – January 13, 2023
• Workplace Safety Symposium – “Digging Into The Data: Safety, Accident, and OSHA Citation Data and Trends in Leading and Lagging Indicators” – Tampa – December 8, 2022
• Workplace Safety Symposium – “Multi-Employer and Joint Employer Worksites” – Tampa – December 7, 2022
• Ogletree Deakins Podcast – “Dirty Steel-Toe Boots, Episode 12: Women in Construction and Safety” – November 9, 2022
• Association of Corporate Counsel Annual Meeting – “COVID and the Workplace: Where are We?” – Las Vegas – October 24, 2022
• Florida Transportation Builders’ Association (FTBA) Webinar – “Beyond E-Verify: Avoiding Hiring Mistakes” – October 19, 2022
• Academy of Florida Management Attorneys (AFMA) Meeting – “OSHA Updates – National and Local” – Palm Beach – October 7, 2022
• Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC) – Florida West Coast Chapter – “OSHA’s Heat Stress Enforcement NEP” – Clearwater – September 14, 2022
• Ogletree Deakins Podcast – “Dirty Steel-Toe Boots, Episode 11: Death by Suicide in the Construction Industry” – September 6, 2022
• Ogletree Deakins Podcast – “Dirty Steel-Toe Boots, Episode 10: Corporate Counsel’s Role Managing OSHA Compliance” – August 30, 2022
• Florida Transportation Builders’ Association (FTBA) Webinar – “OSHA’s Heat-Related Hazard Enforcement Targets Florida and Transportation Construction” – July 27, 2022
• Florida Energy Pipeline Association (FEPA) – 2022 Summer Symposium – “4 Executive Level Strategies for Keeping Workers Safe & OSHA Away” – Key West – July 21, 2022
• ASSP Safety 2022 Conference + Expo – “Effectively Handling OSHA Walk-Around Inspections and Rapid Response Investigations” – Chicago – June 28, 2022
• Academy of Florida Management Attorneys (AFMA) – “5 Surprising OSHA Legal Issues for Non-OSHA Attorneys” – Tampa – June 7, 2022
• Ogletree Deakins Podcast – “Workplace Strategies Watercooler: Dirty Steel-Toe Boots, Episode 9—OSHA’s Focus on Heat Illness” – May 31, 2022
• Workplace Strategies Seminar – “HR and Safety: The Value in Working Together” – Phoenix – May 6, 2022
• American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) Webinar – “What You Need to Know: OSHA’s National Emphasis Program on Heat Related Hazards” – April 27, 2022
• HR Tampa Quarterly Legal Update Webinar – “COVID and OSHA Enforcement Update for Florida Employers” – April 12, 2022
• Florida Chamber Safety Council, 2022 Conference – “Passing the Ultimate Test: OSHA Inspections” – Lake Buena Vista – March 31, 2022
• Ogletree Deakins Podcast – “Dirty Steel-Toe Boots, Episode 8: OSHA’s Attorneys” – March 15, 2022
• Association of Corporate Counsel – Central Florida (ACC) – “Employment Law and the COVID-19 Pandemic” – Orlando – February 24, 2022
• American Foundry Society Webinar – “How to be Prepared for an OSHA Inspection” – February 7, 2022
• Ogletree Deakins Podcast – “Dirty Steel-Toe Boots, Episode 7: The Supreme Court’s Decision on OSHA’s ETS” – January 17, 2022
• Workplace Safety Symposium – “Going to Trial in an OSHA Case” – Phoenix – December 4, 2021
• Workplace Safety Symposium – “Responding to High-Stakes Disasters: OSHA Inspections, Expert Assistance, and Media Coverage” – Phoenix – December 3, 2021
• Workplace Safety Symposium – “What’s New in OSHA Construction Enforcement and the Law” – Phoenix – December 2, 2021
• Ogletree Deakins Webinar – “New Florida Laws Restrict Workplace Vaccine Mandates and Begin State OSH Plan Process” – November 23, 2021
• Ogletree Deakins Podcast – “Dirty Steel-Toe Boots, Episode 6: Florida’s New Law Restricting Employer Vaccine Mandates” – November 21, 2021
• Ogletree Deakins Podcast – “Dirty Steel-Toe Boots, Episode 5: A First Look at OSHA’s New ETS With Phillip Russell and Eric Hobbs” – November 6, 2021
• Ogletree Deakins Podcast – “In The Breakroom With Bill, Episode 5: Breaking Down Florida’s Employer Vaccine Mandate Restriction” – November 6, 2021
• Ogletree Deakins Podcast – “Dirty Steel-Toe Boots, Episode 4: Corporate Safety Culture” – September 17, 2021
• Ogletree Deakins Podcast – “In The Breakroom With Bill, Episode 4: OSHA’s New Emergency Temporary Standard” – September 17, 2021
• ASSP Safety 2021 Conference + Expo – “OUCH! Handling Workplace Injuries and Illnesses: Workers’ Comp, OSHA, Leave & Accommodation Issues” – Austin – September 13, 2021
• ASSP Central Florida Virtual Lunch Meeting – “Medical and Recreational Marijuana Use in the Workplace: Safety First!” – September 7, 2021
• HR Florida State Conference – “Why is HR Not Involved in OSHA Matters?” – Orlando – August 30, 2021
• Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC) National Safety Summit – “OSHA Regulatory and Enforcement Update” – Milwaukee – August 24, 2021
• Ogletree Deakins Podcast – “Dirty Steel-Toe Boots, Episode 3: Why Is OSHA Here?” – August 17, 2021
• Ogletree Deakins Podcast – “In The Breakroom With Bill, Episode 3: What to Expect From OSHA’s Emergency Temporary Standard on Mandatory Vaccinations” – August 17, 2021
• Ogletree Deakins Podcast – “Dirty Steel-Toe Boots, Episode 2: Who Is OSHA?” – August 9, 2021
• Ogletree Deakins Podcast – “Dirty Steel-Toe Boots: A Podcast for Employers about OSHA Enforcement—#1, Podcast Launch and 4 Starter Tips” – August 2, 2021
• American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) 13th Annual Virtual Law & Regulatory Conference – “OSHA Under Biden: Enforcement and Inspection Strategies, Return to Work, and Vaccinations Issues” – June 24, 2021
• Workplace Strategies Virtual Seminar – “After a Year From the Office, How Do We Get Employees Back to Work Safely?” – June 24, 2021
• ASSP West Central Florida Chapter Virtual Lunch Meeting – “OSHA Under Biden: Enforcement and Inspection Strategies, Return to Work, and Vaccination Issues” – June 23, 2021
• Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC) Webinar – “A Look at OSHA Under the Biden Administration” – June 3, 2021
• Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC) National Emerging Leaders Program Webinar – “When Tragedy Strikes: Managing an OSHA Inspection” – May 4, 2021
• Ogletree Deakins Webinar – “Biden OSHA’s COVID-19 Strategy: New Guidance, Possible Emergency Temporary Standards, and Perhaps More” – March 18, 2021
• American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) Webinar – “COVID Vaccinations and the Workplace – What Employers Need to Know” – March 10, 2021
• Florida Transportation Builders’ Association (FTBA), Construction Conference 2021 – “OSHA Under the Biden Administration: Regulatory and Enforcement Priorities” – Orlando – February 23, 2021
• Ogletree Deakins Webinar – “OSHA Hour: Getting Back to the Basics in the New Year—How Best to Prepare for an OSHA Inspection” – January 28, 2021
• Independent Electrical Contractors Webinar – “The Prospects for Upending Labor Law – The PRO Act” – January 18, 2021
• Virtual Workplace Safety Symposium – “OSHA Up Close: A Mock Informal Conference” – December 4, 2020
• The Transportation Alliance 102nd Annual Convention & Expo – “COVID Hot Topics for Employers Now and in the Next Phase” – Atlanta – November 7, 2020
• The Transportation Alliance 102nd Annual Convention & Expo – “Industry Keynote Panel: Sustaining Your Business Through the Pandemic” – Atlanta – November 7, 2020
• Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC) National Convention – “When Tragedy Strikes: Managing an OSHA Inspection Following a Fatal or Serious Injury Accident” – October 30, 2020
• American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) Regional Leadership Team Webinars – “Labor & Employment Issues Impacted by the Pandemic” – September 22, 2020
• Independent Electrical Contractors Florida West Coast Chapter – “COVID-19 Legal Update for Electrical Contractors” – August 19, 2020
• HR Florida State Conference – “Hold on to Your Hard Hat! What HR Pros Need to Know About OSHA & Workplace Injuries/Illness” – Orlando – August 2020
• Ogletree Deakins Webinar – “OSHA Hour: Identifying and Dealing with COVID-19 in the Construction Industry – What are the Issues and How Can Employers Tackle Them?” – July 9, 2020
• Ogletree Deakins Webinar – “Reopening Florida: An Update for Florida Employers” – May 15, 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
• ASSP Central Florida Virtual Lunch Meeting – “COVID-19 Pandemic’s Impact on Workplace Safety” – April 22, 2020
• Florida Transportation Builders’ Association Webinar – “COVID-19 Legal Update” – April 8, 2020
• Workplace Safety Symposium – “Constructing and Deconstructing: What’s New in Construction Enforcement and the Law?” – New Orleans – December 4, 2019
• American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) Southern Regional Meeting – “Top Employment Law Disruptors for Contractors: OSHA, Overtime, and More” – Miami – October 28, 2019
• ASSP Central Florida Lunch Meeting – “How To Handle An OSHA On-Site Inspection” – Orlando – October 7, 2019
• Managing a Workforce in 2020 – “OSHA Recordkeeping and Reporting: The Top 10 Mistakes” – Tampa – October 2, 2019
• HR Florida State Conference – “Christmas in August” – Orlando – August 27, 2019
• HR Florida State Conference – “Ouch! Handling Workplace Injuries” – Orlando – August 27, 2019
• Lorman Education Services Webinar – “OSHA Recordkeeping in Construction” – August 14, 2019
• ODWorks! – “OSHA Recordkeeping Part II” – Tampa – July 30, 2019
• Ogletree Deakins Webinar – “Step By Step: OSHA Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements, Part II” – July 30, 2019
• American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) Webinar – “Medical and Recreational Marijuana ” – July 15, 2019
• ACAF Annual Convention  – “What To Do When OSHA Shows Up for Asphalt Contractors” – Miami – June 21, 2019
• Independent Electrical Contractors’ (IEC) Showcase Event Webinar – “Employment Law” – March 28, 2019
• Independent Electrical Contractors’ (IEC) Showcase Event Webinar – “Addressing Reasonable Accommodations” – March 4, 2019
• Florida Transportation Builders’ Association (FTBA) Safety Session – “OSHA Law Overview” – Orlando – January 18, 2019
• Florida Transportation Builders’ Association (FTBA) Safety Session – “OSHA Regulatory Update” – Orlando – January 17, 2019
• Florida Transportation Builders Association, Construction Conference 2017 – “Four Things to do Before You Hear from OSHA” – Orlando – February 3, 2017
• Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC) National Policy Conference – “Labor Law Update” – Washington, D.C. – April 25, 2016
• IEC CON 2015: Conduit for Profit – “How to Navigate Your Way through an OSHA Investigation” – Tampa – October 22, 2015
• Lorman Webinar – “Recognize and Reduce the Top 5 Safety Violations in Construction” – August 18, 2015
• FTBA Construction Conference – “OSHA Legal Update and Handling Inspections” – Orlando – February 17, 2015

• March 11, 2024 – Independent Electrical Contractors – “NLRB’s New “Ambush Election” Rules Threaten IEC Members’ Union-Free Status”
• November 10, 2023 – Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC) – “Labor, Employment, and OSHA Law Update — It Has Been a Busy Year!”
• May/June 2023 – IEC Insights Magazine – “OSHA Inspections — Four Things Employers Need Before OSHA Shows Up and Why”
• 2023 – ABA’s Occupational Safety and Health Law Treatise – 5th Edition (chapter editor) – “Relationship of the OSH Act to Other Federal Laws and Agencies”
• Fall 2022 – NETA World – “OSHA’s New Heat Illness NEP Targets Electrical Contractors”
• August 1, 2022 – Workplace Health Magazine – “OSHA’s Heat Illness National Emphasis Program: The Heat is On”
• Summer 2022 – Florida Transportation Builder – “OSHA’s Heat Illness National Emphasis Program Targets Transportation Construction Industry”
• May/June 2022 – IEC Insights Magazine – “OSHA’s New Heat Illness National Emphasis Program Targets Electrical Contractors”
• February 2022 – HR Professionals Magazine – “.S. Supreme Court Ruling on Vaccine Mandate for Employers – What’s Next?”
• February 2022 – Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC) Tampa Bay Chapter – “OSHA Inspections – 4 Things Employers Need Before OSHA Shows Up”
• Winter 2021 – Florida Transportation Builder – “Florida OSHA State Plan Moves Closer to Reality”
• March 22, 2021 – ABA’s Under Construction Newsletter – “A First Look at OSHA Under the Biden Administration”
• January 1, 2021 – Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC) – “2021 IEC National Jobsite Safety Handbook for Electricians”
• Summer 2020 – Florida Transportation Builder – “Return-to-Work Safety and Health Issues for Contractors”
• January 1, 2020 – Florida Transportation Builders Association Safety Committee – “2020 FTBA Guide to the Industry’s Best Safety Practices”
• January/February 2019 – IEC Insights – “Marijuana Usage is a Workplace Safety Issue”
• January 2019 – CoatingsPro – “Marijuana Usage Is a Workplace Safety Issue”
• 2018 – ABA’s Occupational Safety and Health Law Treatise – 4th Edition (Chapter Editor) – “Relationship of the OSH Act to Other Federal Laws and Agencies”
• Winter 2017 – The Construction Lawyer – “An Overview of OSHA Investigations and Citations”
• Summer 2017 – ABA’s Under Construction Newsletter – “Clearing the Smoke: Workplace Safety Issues Clouded by Medical Marijuana”
• June 10, 2016 – Electrical Construction & Maintenance – “10 Tips for Handling an OSHA Inspection”
• May 31, 2016 – IEC Newsletter – “How to Handle an OSHA Investigation”
• 2016 – Occupational Safety and Health Law Handbook, 3rd ed. (Ch. 6) – “Employers’ and Employees’ Rights”
• 2016 – ABA’s The Construction Lawyer’s Guide to Labor & Employment Law (2d ed) (Co-Author of Ch. 3) – “Employee Handbooks”
• May 2014 – IEC/Florida West Coast Chapter – The Conduit – “What To Do When OSHA Is On The Job Site: Top Tips for Electrical Contractors”

• November 14, 2024 – EHS Today – “What Will OSHA Look Like Under New Administration?”
• November 8, 2024 – Construction Dive – “Trump administration likely to abandon OSHA heat safety rule”
• September 3, 2024 – The Construction Broadsheet – “Legal Q and A: Looking at OSHA’s proposed heat standard”
• July 25, 2024 – Construction Dive – “OSHA’s proposed heat rule: It’s time to get HIIPP”
• June 27, 2024 – American Road & Transportation Builders Association – “Internal Traffic Control Plans Save Lives”
• August 17, 2023 – Harrington – “Episode 128: Phillip Russell on Providing All-Star Client Service”
• March 25, 2022 – SHRM Online – “OSHA: Some Travel Injuries Must Be Recorded”
• March 22, 2022 – SHRM Online – “OSHA Seeks Comments on Proposed Final Rule to Protect Health Care Workers from COVID-19”
• January 14, 2022 – Bloomberg Law – “Shot-or-Test Rule ‘Dead’ as High Court Dooms Further Litigation”
• January 7, 2022 – Inc. Magazine – “Will Your Company Require Vaccinations Monday? U.S. Supreme Court Could Decide Soon”
• December 27, 2021 – Bloomberg Law – “Blocking OSHA Drone Inspections Can Trigger Search Warrants”
• December 9, 2021 – Engineering News-Record – “Would Dramatically Higher OSHA Penalties Make Workers Safer?”
• November 15, 2021 – Workspan Daily – “Vaccine Mandates: Plan for Compliance or Take a Pause?”
• November 1, 2021 – The Construction Broadsheet – “Max OSHA penalties $700K under Biden’s Build Back Better plan”
• November 1, 2021 – SHRM Online – “OSHA Looks to California, Other States on Proposed Heat Standard”
• October 27, 2021 – Tampa Bay Business Journal – “Statewide health care: What to do if you have employees who travel abroad”
• September 17, 2021 – Tampa Bay Business Journal – “Tampa Bay employers await specifics on strict Covid vaccination rules”
• May 26, 2021 – Construction Dive – “OSHA changes course on vaccine recording requirements”
• May 18, 2021 – Construction Dive – “Contractors weigh new OSHA guidance on adverse vaccine reactions”
• April 30, 2021 – Bloomberg Law – “Fully Vaccinated Construction Workers Can Now Opt to Avoid Masks”
• April 14, 2021 – Construction Dive – “Biden nominates California safety chief as head of OSHA”
• March 12, 2021 – Tampa Bay Business Journal – “To mandate or not to mandate: Legal issues around vaccines and Covid in the workplace”
• March 5, 2021 – Construction Dive – “With Biden’s ETS deadline looming, feds find OSHA compromised worker safety”
• February 4, 2021 – Construction Dive – “What a Marty Walsh-led Labor Department could mean for construction”
• November 9, 2020 – Construction Dive – “You’ve been cited by OSHA: Now what?”
• September 24, 2020 – Construction Dive – “Michigan fines 12 construction-related businesses for COVID-19 violations”
• September 2, 2020 – EHS Today – “OSHA Staff Gets Silica Enforcement Guide”
• June 30, 2020 – HR Morning – “New OSHA COVID-19 reporting: Do you know what’s required?”
• May 29, 2020 – Construction Dive – “OSHA issues new COVID-19 guidance”
• May 14, 2020 – Bloomberg Law – “OSHA Construction Safety Inspections Plunge 84% in Pandemic”
• May 6, 2020 – Construction Dive – “Nurses contracted by Tampa, Florida, officials drop in on jobsites in fight against coronavirus”
• April 24, 2020 – Construction Dive – “Massachusetts union members advised to return to work following strikes”
• April 15, 2020 – Construction Dive – “OSHA issues guidance for recording COVID-19 cases”
• March 30, 2020 – Construction Dive – “Construction workers express concerns about coronavirus, question their rights”
• September 27, 2019 – Construction Dive – “OSHA gets new construction director”
• September 9, 2019 – Construction Dive – “Manhattan DA busts labor broker for workers’ comp fraud”
• July 25, 2019 – Construction Dive – “Employer or employee: Who’s to blame for OSHA violations?”
• November 29, 2018 – Bloomberg Environment – “Safety Inspection Drones Raise Concerns for Employers”
• January 29, 2018 – Human Resource Executive – “When Nature Strikes”
• January 18, 2018 – SHRM Online – “Distracted Driving, Violence and Drug Use Contribute to Workplace Fatalities”

• Fellow, College of Labor and Employment Lawyers (2023)
• The Lawdragon 500 Leading Corporate Employment Lawyers (2024, 2025)
• Client Service All-Star 2023, OSHA and Employment Law (BTI Consulting Group)
• Chambers USA Leading Lawyer, Labor and Employment (2024)
• Chambers USA 2023 Leading Lawyer, Occupational Safety and Health (Band 3)
• 2022 Industry Achievement Award by the Independent Electrical Contractors
  The IEC Industry Achievement Award recognizes significant contributions to the electrical industry by an industry partner. 
• Board Certified in labor and employment law by the Florida Bar since 2018
• Member, Academy of Florida Management Attorneys (AFMA) (admitted 2021)
• AV® Rated by Martindale-Hubbell since 2012
• Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® for Litigation – Labor and Employment (2012-2025)
• Super Lawyer in Employment and Labor, Employment Litigation (2010-2013, 2015-present)
• 2020 Soap Box Award presented by the Florida Transportation Builders’ Association (FTBA)
  • “This Soap Box Award is being presented to you for outstanding contributions to the FTBA and its members. You have a passion for what you do and to serve the industry at-large. Your efforts led to the creation of the Safety Committee and you set an example by your continued participation and engagement. Your counsel and guidance during the COVID-19 pandemic was immeasurable to the Association and its members for which we cannot thank you enough.” August 7, 2020
• FTBA Safety Committee Leadership and Dedication Award, 2022 for service as Co-Chairman 2018-2021
• Ogletree Deakins – Living the Client Pledge Award 2018
  • Recognized for his leadership in responding to a multi-person, high-stakes workplace fatality for a firm client, Mr. Russell exemplified the firm’s Client Pledge to serve clients at the highest level through value, innovation, quality, collaboration, and communication. The client’s General Counsel commented that Mr. Russell responded to the crisis with a firm understanding of the legal issues and business impact of the situation and lead the team with resolve, focus, and a plan.