A Texas luxury car dealer that allegedly retaliated against an employee who raised COVID-19 concerns is being sued by OSHA. The employee was fired after warning co-workers about potential COVID-19 hazards in the workplace. After learning that a co-worker at Austin-based Hi Tech Motorcars tested positive for the coronavirus, the employee requested management notify other […]
When National Safety Council CEO Lorraine Martin thinks about the last 18 months and the world of occupational safety, an experience she had while in the ROTC comes to mind. In opening remarks at the NSC’s Safety Congress & Expo 2021, Martin told a story about ROTC officer training school before her junior year. She […]
When employers require employees to get COVID-19 vaccinations, what happens? A new National Safety Council (NSC) study has the answer, plus more information on the world of safety during the pandemic. Employer vaccine requirements increased worker vaccination rates by 35%, according to the NSC’s report, A Year in Review, and What’s Next: COVID-19 Employer Approaches and […]
Booster shots for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine are now available, but who is eligible for them? People ages 18 to 64 years old who are at increased risk of COVID-19 exposure and transmission due to working or residing in certain settings can get the booster shots. Although the vaccination for older adults remains effective in […]
The Biden administration has released details on its requirement for federal contractors to have their employees vaccinated for COVID-19, including a compliance date. Covered contractors must ensure all covered employees are fully vaccinated for COVID-19 no later than Dec. 8, 2021, unless the employee is legally entitled to an accommodation. After that, all covered contractor […]
New research shows physical distancing alone may not be enough to stop the spread of COVID-19 indoors. Two meters (about six and a half feet) of distance between unmasked people isn’t enough to avoid infectious aerosols, according to researchers at the Penn State Department of Architectural Engineering. The researchers looked into how building ventilation and […]
Shortly after President Joe Biden’s announcement regarding an upcoming emergency temporary standard (ETS) requiring employers with 100+ employees to mandate vaccinations or weekly COVID-19 testing, OSHA has released more information on the standard. In a brief press conference, the agency provided a few extra details about the ETS, but there are still a number of […]
OSHA has been directed by President Biden to develop a new rule requiring all employers with 100 or more employees to ensure their workers are either fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or getting tested weekly before coming to work. The directive is part of President Biden’s new plan to combat the coronavirus, which is still raging […]
OSHA’s COVID-19 emergency temporary standard (ETS) is set to expire Dec. 21, 2021, and an agency official recently said that an extension of the ETS isn’t planned and a permanent infectious disease standard isn’t coming this year. The ETS could only remain in effect for six months without OSHA superseding it with a permanent standard, […]
