Category: COVID-19

The COVID-19 outbreak is at top of mind for environment, health, and safety (EHS) professionals nationwide.

COVID-19 Safety Inspection

COVID-19: Fatality Results in OSHA Citation; ETS Imminent

On April 22, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cited and fined a Naperville, Illinois, logistics center following an outbreak of COVID-19 in which one worker died. The agency is seeking $12,288 in fines for a serious violation of the General Duty Clause.

Oregon and COVID-19, Oregon OSHA

Oregon OSHA Continues to Enforce State’s COVID-19 ETS

The Oregon Occupational Safety and Health (Oregon OSHA), a division of the Department of Consumer & Business Services, continues to enforce the state’s COVID-19 emergency temporary standard (ETS). The agency recently cited a bar, a restaurant, and two home improvement stores for exposing employees to risk of infection.

Michigan flag and COVID-19

Michigan’s COVID-19 ETS Extended to October

While the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has yet to issue a federal emergency temporary standard (ETS) for workplace COVID-19 exposures, Michigan has extended its COVID-19 ETS through the fall. The Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) announced the extension of Michigan’s emergency COVID-19 rules through October 14.

Coronavirus

NIOSH Releases Research Agenda for COVID-19 Issues

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) released a research agenda for critical issues involved in the COVID-19 pandemic. Future research should focus on essential workers involved in critical continuity functions in the United States, according to NIOSH.

Michigan flag and COVID-19

MIOSHA Begins Rulemaking for Permanent COVID-19 Standard

The Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) began a rulemaking to establish a permanent COVID-19 standard. MIOSHA submitted a Request for Rulemaking to the Michigan Office of Administrative Hearings and Rules, initiating the process of formal rulemaking to extend the requirements of the agency’s COVID-19 emergency temporary standard (ETS).

Drug and Alcohol Testing Results

EHS on Tap: E66 Returning to Work Post-COVID: Considerations for Your Drug and Alcohol Testing Policies

While we are still amid the COVID-19 pandemic, increasing vaccination rates and better workplace safety guidance have led organizations to look ahead to return-to-work scenarios in a post-COVID business world. One environment, health, and safety (EHS)-related angle that may be a bit overlooked is your drug and alcohol testing program. Drug and alcohol use has […]

COVID-19 safety inspection

OSHA’s New NEP Focuses on COVID-19 Enforcement

On March 12, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) launched a National Emphasis Program (NEP), focusing enforcement on companies at which large numbers of workers face serious risk of COVID-19 infections. The NEP also prioritizes whistleblower protection enforcement for workers who face retaliation for reporting unsafe or unhealthy workplace conditions.

Safety team, COVID-19 standard

What Might Be in a Federal OSHA COVID-19 Standard?

On January 21, 2021, President Joe Biden signed an Executive Order directing the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to consider an emergency temporary standard (ETS) related to COVID-19. If the ETS is deemed necessary, the Order, titled “Protecting Worker Health and Safety,” calls on OSHA to issue it by March 15, today. What might […]