An investigation into how an employee contracted COVID-19 in the workplace has caused the CDC to change its definition of “close contact.” This impacts contact tracing and renews emphasis on workplace controls. Previously, the CDC defined “close contact” as someone who spent at least 15 consecutive minutes within six feet of a confirmed coronavirus case. […]
A meatpacking plant and a temporary staffing company face a total of $104,795 in Cal/OSHA fines in connection with an investigation after 303 COVID-19 cases at the facility. Cal/OSHA issued $58,100 in fines to Smithfield Food’s Farmer John plant in Vernon, CA, and $46,695 in fines to CitiStaff Solutions Inc. in East Los Angeles, CA, […]
As vaccines for the coronavirus go before the Food and Drug Administration for approval, the logistics of getting them to the general public are still a work in progress. For example, some of the vaccines have to be stored at extremely cold temperatures and must be administered within a certain time after defrosting. In addition, […]
Federal OSHA has received thousands of COVID-19-related complaints from workers across the U.S. who are required to work despite the hazards posed by the pandemic. Workers in healthcare, construction, grocery stores, pharmacies and shipping companies filed more than 3,000 complaints claiming their employers aren’t keeping them safe from exposure to the coronavirus. Freedom of Information […]
Employers are getting federal guidance on how to properly clean and disinfect their facilities before re-opening from coronavirus-related closures. The Environmental Protection Agency and the Centers for Disease Control issued guidance April 29 providing step-by-step instruction for post-pandemic cleaning and disinfecting of workplaces, public spaces, businesses, schools and homes. Proper cleaning and disinfecting are important […]
As the novel coronavirus outbreak continues to evolve, OSHA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have posted guidance on their websites for dealing with the virus.
Thanks to the coronavirus pandemic, there were fewer attempts to appeal OSHA citations in fiscal year 2020, according to a report from the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission (OSHRC). Employers filed 1,845 appeals with the OSHRC in FY 2020, down 8.5% from the 2,017 filed in FY 2019. The OSHRC attributes the decrease in […]
Virginia is the first state in the nation to adopt workplace safety standards to address the coronavirus. The state‘s Safety and Health Codes Board adopted the emergency temporary standard on infectious disease prevention – drafted under the direction of Governor Ralph Northam – by a 9-2 vote July 15. Virginia is mandating PPE, sanitation, social […]
Industry Experts Offer Advice on Keeping Employees Safe and Healthy As health experts raised the threat level of the swine flu to 5, indicating “a strong signal that a pandemic is imminent,” some U.S. businesses are just now beginning to look at ways to prepare for the potential health, social, and economic impact of a […]
There’s a lot of information out there on the coronavirus – unfortunately, some of it not accurate. Here’s a resource with all the basics. Download the Safety News Alert Infographic, Fast Facts on Coronavirus (COVID-19) here. Need more information? Here are webinars from Premier Learning Solutions on COVID-19: COVID-19 & Crisis Management: 7 Actions to Apply […]
During this COVID-19 pandemic, workplace drug testing will require new rules and new precaution, but it should never be compromised. Here’s a real-life incident involving a test subject who, while waiting to take a drug test, realized that a co-worker was coughing in the restroom. He then refused to enter the restroom because there was […]
Construction workers are almost five times more likely to be hospitalized for the coronavirus compared to non-construction workers, according to a study from researchers with The University of Texas at Austin. Researchers at the COVID-19 Modeling Consortium at UT made the discovery from hospitalization data in Austin from March to August. The findings mirror an […]
The National Safety Council says due to continuing concerns about COVID-19, its annual flagship conference will be a fully virtual event in March 2021. The exact dates for the virtual conference will be announced in the coming weeks. The NSC Congress & Expo had been scheduled for October 2020 in Indianapolis, and then was postponed […]
The National Safety Council (NSC) will lead a new task force that will guide employers through the process of resuming work in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. The Safe Actions For Employee Returns (SAFER) task force includes Fortune 500 companies, safety organizations, government agencies and trade associations, including: American Chemistry Council American Industrial Hygiene Association […]
According to the National Safety Council, “new normal” isn’t just a catch phrase. A new NSC report says after COVID-19, “the future world of work is going to look fundamentally different.” The NSC report, State of the Response: The Future World of Work, highlights seven impactful changes related to the pandemic: Operations: The biggest operational […]
As more employees return to the workplace in the wake of the coronavirus, many have questions about using face masks. OSHA has published a series of FAQs about face masks in the workplace. Here are some of the questions and answers from OSHA: Are employers required to provide cloth face coverings to workers? OSHA’s PPE […]
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