Cressinda (“Chris”) D. Schlag is an associate in the Austin, Texas, office of Jackson Lewis P.C. Her practice focuses on environmental health and safety matters involving legal and regulatory compliance as well as federal and state government enforcement actions.
Before becoming an attorney, Ms. Schlag obtained a graduate degree in occupational health and safety and environmental management and worked as an environmental health and safety engineer and consultant with a variety of industries, including, for example, oil and gas, chemicals manufacturing and supply, agriculture, aerospace, construction, and metals and coating manufacturing. As an environmental health and safety professional, Ms. Schlag obtained extensive technical experience related to chemical risk management, hazardous materials management, property remediation, hazard mitigation, and regulatory compliance across a variety of industries. She also developed a strong business acumen and deep understanding of the complex challenges that employers face in developing regulatory compliant programs. In having both technical and legal experience, Ms. Schlag can anticipate compliance challenges and provide employers with astute guidance on how to comply with emerging laws, improve environmental health and safety programs, as well as defend against federal and state enforcement initiatives and actions.
Since graduating law school, Ms. Schlag has dedicated her practice to counseling and working with employers on a broad range of environmental health and safety matters, including, for example, development of effective strategies for resolving Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”), and U.S. Department of Transportation (“DOT”) enforcement actions; implementation of compliance audits and internal investigations; identification of effective strategies for managing worker health issues like communicable diseases; and provided training on emerging issues such as recordkeeping pitfalls, chemical risk management, emergency action planning, and how to conduct a serious incident investigation. She also gained valuable experience as in-house counsel at Whole Foods Market related to challenges with implementing compliance programs at scale, how to address environmental health and safety issues that also involve brand reputation risks (e.g., sustainability initiatives and green programs), and methods for mitigating risk in light of complex, patchwork, and evolving regulatory frameworks (e.g., state plastic reduction laws and state mandated training initiatives).
Ms. Schlag routinely advises employers on federal and state regulatory initiatives, how government agencies are interpreting specific compliance obligations, and evaluates issued citations and penalties for purposes of determining the need to contest or appeal. She also proactively assists employers with development of comprehensive compliance strategies and represents her client’s interests in a variety of settings including rulemaking proceedings, administrative hearings, and in litigation.
More Legal and Business Bylines From Cressinda D. Schlag
- New York Enacts Workplace Safety and Health Law, Mandating New Protections After COVID-19 Pandemic - (Posted On Friday, May 14, 2021)
- As California Targets June Reopening Cal/OSHA Considers Updating COVID-19 Standards - (Posted On Wednesday, May 12, 2021)
- Without Much Ado, Cal OSHA Updates Guidance Regarding Vaccinated Individuals - (Posted On Tuesday, May 11, 2021)
- Coming Soon: Revisions to Cal OSHA’s COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standards Anticipated by June 2021 - (Posted On Tuesday, April 27, 2021)
- OSHA Nomination Signals Greater Enforcement, New Standards - (Posted On Monday, April 19, 2021)
- OSHA Guidance on How It Will Conduct COVID-19 Inspections - (Posted On Thursday, April 01, 2021)
- Changing COVID-19 Guidance and Requirements Cause Consternation at Construction Sites - (Posted On Wednesday, March 31, 2021)
- Manufacturers Should Prepare for OSHA’s New and Altered Proposed Hazard Communication Requirements - (Posted On Monday, March 29, 2021)
- As States Reopen Employers Face Hard Choices on How to Manage Workplace Safety - (Posted On Wednesday, March 10, 2021)
- Cal OSHA Offers Additional Guidance for Its COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standards: Testing Sites and Scope of Coverage - (Posted On Monday, March 01, 2021)