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, […]
The National Safety Council (NSC) is calling on all U.S. employers to mandate COVID-19 vaccinations, which the organization says are the “only recourse to combat the Delta variant and adapt to an evolving pandemic landscape.” All employers are urged to implement COVID-19 vaccination requirements for their workers, and the NSC has introduced guidance outlining four […]
The operator of a New Jersey transitional housing facility was cited by OSHA after 11 employees and 28 residents tested positive for COVID-19. Infected residents weren’t isolated and mask and social distancing mandates weren’t enforced at the facility leading to employee exposure to the coronavirus. The operator had requirements for infected residents to be isolated […]
While the federal government and professional groups such as the National Safety Council continue to urge employers to encourage their employees to get vaccinated against COVID-19, other organizations are adding another weapon against the virus to their arsenals: rapid testing. Rapid antigen testing is quick and easy to administer. Employers are building the tests into […]
Beginning Aug. 13, 2021, Oregon will require everyone ages five and older in all indoor public spaces to wear masks regardless of vaccination status. Oregon OSHA will enforce this in the workplace, but the agency announced it will “focus first on education, rather than inspections and fines,” according to law firm Littler Mendelson. A similar […]
New York State’s attorney general can continue her investigation into whether Amazon prioritized profits over safety in connection with its actions regarding employees and COVID-19. A U.S. district judge in Brooklyn rejected Amazon‘s attempt to stop Attorney General Letitia James’ investigation, according to Reuters. “The state has a legitimate interest in ensuring that employers are […]
Employers should take steps to protect fully vaccinated and unvaccinated workers against COVID-19 in the wake of the Delta variant spread, according to OSHA. OSHA has released updated guidance based on a CDC July 27 release. Preliminary evidence that fully vaccinated people can spread the Delta variant prompted the CDC’s and OSHA’s recent guidance. Masks […]
A Washington State farm previously fined for COVID-19 violations that led to the deaths of two workers has reached a settlement with the state requiring it to invest more than $2 million in safety, health and housing improvements. Gebbers Farms was fined $2,038,200 and $13,200 following two inspections by the state’s Department of Labor & […]
