A Staten Island, NY, community health center and its CEO are being sued by the U.S. Department of Labor after an employee was allegedly suspended and later fired for reporting COVID-19-related safety and health concerns. The employee was allegedly disciplined and eventually terminated after expressing concerns over staff being exposed to the coronavirus and a […]
Increased complaints, a reduction of inspections and more remote inspections during the COVID-19 pandemic combined to increase safety risks for employees, according to a new report from the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General (OIG). An ongoing OIG audit into the actions OSHA took during the pandemic reveals increased complaints, reduced inspections and an increase […]
OSHA has made an important update to the way it’s enforcing regulations regarding COVID-19. The agency says it doesn’t want to have any appearance of discouraging workers from receiving the COVID-19 vaccination, and also doesn’t want to “disincentivize” employers’ vaccination efforts. Therefore, OSHA won’t enforce 29 CFR 1904’s requirements that would have required any employers […]
In a reversal of an insurance company’s denial, a judge awarded workers’ compensation benefits to an employee who contracted COVID-19 and missed three weeks of work. Here’s how the case played out: Jose Tovar, a former employee of food-processing company JBS in Texas, caught COVID-19 in April 2020 and wasn’t able to work for three […]
More than a year after successfully adapting to pandemic-related restrictions and disruptions, many businesses are beginning to think about what comes next. While some are embracing a hybrid work format that incorporates elements of remote work and in-office activity, others will return to pre-pandemic on-site operations. Regardless of the arrangement, worker safety is top of […]
Are you confused over what the latest guidance regarding masks and those fully vaccinated against COVID-19 means for employers? Thankfully, one safety organization asked for clarification from OSHA, and the agency responded. The American Industrial Hygienist Association (AIHA) asked OSHA and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to clarify the guidance and […]
The latest guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) tells the fully vaccinated they no longer need to wear a mask or physically distance in most settings, but that will likely conflict with many workplace policies and federal and state regulations. However, the new CDC guidance does specify that masks and […]
As COVID-19 vaccination rates have started to decrease, the National Safety Council says employers can – and should – play a major role in getting more shots into arms. The NSC says it’s time for employers to lead U.S. vaccination efforts. The safety organization says vaccination is the best route to a safe and productive […]
OSHA has received more than 60,000 coronavirus-related complaints as of last March, primarily from employees seeking improved workplace safety measures. In response to the many grievances received, OSHA launched the National Emphasis Program (NEP) in March 2021 to ensure businesses provide employees with adequate resources and protection during the pandemic. The program indicated a new […]
