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The COVID-19 outbreak is at top of mind for environment, health, and safety (EHS) professionals nationwide.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) did not sufficiently protect American workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department of Labor’s (DOL) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) concluded in an audit released October 31. An earlier OIG report found that OSHA reduced the number of inspections it conducted at a time when complaints increased […]
With California’s COVID-19 emergency temporary standards (ETSs) expiring December 31, the state’s Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board (OSHSB) is considering “nonemergency” regulations that would take effect January 1. The rules would remain in effect for two years, except for recordkeeping and reporting requirements, which would remain in effect for three years. The board issued […]
You might be wondering how the COVID-19 pandemic is impacting contractor safety. Well, to put it plainly, contractor safety is now a top priority for businesses across the globe. To keep workers safe, many companies have implemented strict health and safety guidelines that must be followed by all contractors. And in some cases, companies are […]
Just as the COVID-19 threat appeared to be waning, monkeypox has emerged as the newest viral workplace threat. On July 30, 2022, New York City Mayor Eric Adams declared monkeypox a public health emergency. His announcement was followed by a statement from Governor Kathy Hochul saying the virus created an “imminent threat to public health.” […]
A nongovernmental task force recently recommended that building owners begin taking four steps to address SARS-CoV-2 infection risks in schools and workplaces: verifying building systems are performing as designed, increasing outdoor air ventilation, upgrading air filtration, and deploying portable air cleaners where needed. The Lancet COVID-19 Commission’s Task Force on Safe Work, Safe School, and […]
On June 30, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced it is extending its National Emphasis Program (NEP) for COVID-19 until further notice. The NEP was set to expire July 7. The agency also announced it is temporarily increasing its coronavirus inspection goal from 5% of inspections to 10% while it works to finalize […]
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recently released a tool for predicting N95 respirator needs in non-healthcare workplaces. In research published in the journal Health Security, NIOSH researchers unveiled a spreadsheet-based tool for estimating the number of N95 respirators needed to protect essential non-healthcare workers. The tool is available in the article’s […]
Four JBS Foods USA subsidiaries and affiliates reached an agreement with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to settle COVID-19 citations at two JBS facilities. The four JBS units agreed to assemble a team of company and third-party experts to develop and implement an infectious disease preparedness plan for seven of its meat processing […]
Challenges to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) COVID-19 emergency temporary standards (ETS) and employer noncompliance with reporting requirements hampered the agency’s pandemic response, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) reported in a May 25 Congressional testimony. In a written testimony submitted to the House Committee on Education and Labor’s Subcommittee on Workforce Protections, […]
On May 7, the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) issued new employer guidance on the state’s COVID-19 emergency temporary standard (ETS). On April 21, California’s Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board renewed the ETS a third time. The revised ETS is effective May 6 through December 31, and it applies to employers […]