Photo of Michael T. Taylor

Michael Taylor is Chair of the Greenberg Traurig OSHA Practice group. Michael focuses his nationwide practice exclusively on representing employers regarding workplace safety and health matters. Over the last two decades, Michael has represented hundreds of employers during federal and state workplace safety and health litigation, many of which involved a significant injury, fatality, fire, explosion, or catastrophic release of a highly hazardous substance in the workplace. Michael also provides federal and state workplace safety and health compliance counseling, inspection counseling, whistleblower representation, and due diligence reviews for clients. Michael also represents employers regarding Chemical Safety Board investigations in response to a significant fire, explosion, or catastrophic release of a highly hazardous substance in the workplace. Michael has significant experience in the oil, gas, electric utility, grain, construction, and chemical manufacturing industries.

Michael previously served as General Counsel to the federal Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission, the agency in charge of adjudicating workplace safety and health disputes between federal OSHA and the regulated community.

Michael is the Founder and Host of the Greenberg Traurig Workplace Safety Review Podcast, where he interviews influential environmental, health, and safety professionals across the country regarding timely and important topics in the environmental, health and safety world. Recent guests have included Douglas Parker, Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health in the Biden Administration; Deborah Harris, Chief of the U.S. Department of Justice Environmental Crimes Section; John Howard, Director of NIOSH and Administrator of the World Trade Center Health Program in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service; Nadine Mancini, General Counsel of the federal Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission; and Richard Fairfax, former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor for federal OSHA.

In 2020, Michael was recognized as a "Labor & Employment Star" in the Benchmark Litigation Labor & Employment rankings, and, in 2013, EHS Today named Michael as one of the Top 50 People Who Most Influenced Environmental, Health, and Safety.

On Dec. 16, 2021, the California Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board adopted revisions to the Cal/OSHA COVID-19 Prevention Emergency Temporary Standards (ETS). The ETS updates amend employer requirements for
Continue Reading Cal/OSHA Revises COVID-19 Prevention Emergency Temporary Standards

On Dec. 17, a three-judge panel for the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, by a 2-1 vote, dissolved the Fifth Circuit’s stay of the Occupational Safety
Continue Reading A Not So Happy New Year for Employers? 6th Circuit Dissolves Stay of OSHA COVID-19 ETS

On Nov. 16, 2021, the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced it is suspending all implementation and enforcement efforts related to the Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) on mandatory
Continue Reading OSHA Suspends Implementation and Enforcement of Vaccine Mandate Pending Litigation

On Nov. 4, 2021, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) unveiled its long-awaited Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) regarding the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination, vaccination verification, face coverings, and
Continue Reading The COVID-19 Vaccine/Testing Mandate Is Here: What Does It Mean for Employers?

On Oct. 25, 2021, the U.S. Senate confirmed President Biden’s nominee for assistant secretary of labor for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Doug Parker, who is tasked with
Continue Reading Senate Confirms President Biden’s Nominee to Head OSHA

On Sept. 28, 2021, California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law Senate Bill 606 (SB 606), which, among other things, creates two new categories of California Division of
Continue Reading Cal/OSHA to California Employers: Get It Right or Pay the Price

On Sept. 9, 2021, President Biden announced that he had asked the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to promulgate an Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) that will require employers
Continue Reading President Biden Issues COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate for Certain Workers: Unanswered Questions for Employers Remain