Twelve months ago, we were just beginning to hear about a new, deadly virus in China. A lot has changed in safety in 2020. Here’s a look back:
- Jan. 20: Maximum OSHA fines increase due to annual inflation adjustment. The top fine for a willful violation is now almost $135,000.
- March 4: Coronavirus outbreak causing N95 respirator shortage. Even before states shut down many businesses, some healthcare facilities were feeling this effect of COVID-19.
- March 16: Bookmark this: Online resources for coronavirus updates. This post became one of Safety News Alert’s most clicked of the year as details surrounding COVID-19 changed.
- April 22: Federal OSHA receives thousands of COVID-19-related complaints. Employees said their workplaces lacked PPE, soap and sanitizer, and social distancing.
- May 18: These facilities became virus hot spots: Avoiding a similar fate. One meat plant became the No. 1 coronavirus hot spot in the U.S.
- July 8: Report: Top causes of workplace injuries costing employers $1B a week. Injuries such as slip, trips and falls, strains and sprains cost employers $59 billion per year.
- July 20: OSHA publishes new final rule on beryllium for general industry. The deadline for compliance was Sept. 14.
- July 22: First statewide coronavirus safety standard adopted. Virginia was the first, but not the last.
- July 29: OSHA agrees to make injury records available to advocacy group. Not long after this, companies’ injury summaries were posted online.
- Aug. 25: NSC: U.S. COVID deaths surpass 2018 accidental death numbers. A grim reminder of the toll COVID-19 is taking in the U.S.
- Sept. 1: Quest: Positive drug test rates hit 16-year high with weed topping list. Tests for opiates declined.
- Sept. 3: Report: Workers’ comp ‘mega claims’ of $3M or more on the rise. About one out of every 2,500 indemnity claims hits this high level.
- Oct. 6: OSHA clarifies reporting COIVID illnesses, deaths. Many companies were confused over what was required.
- Oct. 7: New hours of service rules in effect for CMV drivers. The rules set the maximum time commercial motor vehicle drivers are allowed to be on duty.
- Nov. 9: OSHA under Biden administration: What to expect. Look for changes in COVID-19 and other policies.
- Nov. 12: 2019 injury data remains mostly unchanged from 2018. Employers reported 2.8 million nonfatal injuries and illnesses in 2019.
- Nov. 13: Voters in 5 states legalize marijuana: Workplace impact. What does this mean for employers?
- Nov. 16: Should you mandate COVID-19 worker vaccinations? Employers can mandate vaccination — but is that a good idea?
- Nov. 30: COVID fines issued by federal OSHA break $3M mark. Through the middle of November, 232 facilities received violations.
- Dec. 14: NSC: COVID-19 fundamentally changes future of work. The National Safety Council says after COVID-19, “the future world of work is going to look fundamentally different.”