Tag: COVID-19

COVID-19 safety inspection

ASTM Developing Nonregulatory Standard for Face Masks

ASTM International, a standards-setting organization formerly known as The American Society for Testing and Materials, is developing a new specification for face coverings. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recommended cloth face coverings for the general public to reduce the number of COVID-19 cases, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has […]

FFR with exhalation valve

NIOSH Says Modified FFRs with Exhalation Valves Just as Effective at Control of Disease Sources

Filtering facepiece respirators (FFRs) with exhalation valves, as well as a surgical mask or an unregulated face covering, can reduce a wearer’s aerosol emissions, according to a report released on December 9 by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). With modifications, the respirators can offer the same level of source control as […]

COVID-19 vaccine

Employers Weighing Whether to Make COVID-19 Vaccinations Mandatory

The long-awaited COVID-19 vaccines are apparently close to mass distribution across the country. It’s a welcome development but also one that may put employers in a quandary: Should they require employees to be vaccinated, and, if not, what should they do to keep workers safe?

Whistleblower

OSHA Whistleblower Charges Surge During COVID-19

Whistleblower charges alleging workplace safety retaliation have surged dramatically during COVID-19. Approximately 30 percent more charges have been filed with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) over the same period last year, according to a recent audit from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) Office of Inspector General.

Truck driving

Hours-of-Service Relief Extended by FMCSA

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) extended and expanded its hours-of-service regulatory relief for commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers transporting emergency goods in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

COVID-19 coronavirus

COVID-19: CDC Updates Employer Resources; Cal/OSHA Rules Take Effect; Former OSHA Head Joins Biden Advisory Board

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and its National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) provided updated resources on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) for employers. These include a fact sheet on case investigation and contact tracing, critical infrastructure sector response planning, and information for school administrators and school nurses.

COVID-19 coronavirus

When Is COVID-19 Recordable, and How Do You Comply with Hands-On Training Requirements During the Pandemic?

Our experts at Safety.BLR.com® have been busy answering subscribers’ questions related to EHS management during the COVID-19 pandemic. Read on for their answers regarding recordable cases of COVID-19, plus information on how the pandemic has affected hands-on safety training, specifically as it relates to compliance requirements for fire extinguisher training.

California and COVID-19

California Health and Safety Board Approves COVID-19 Rule

California’s Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board unanimously approved five emergency temporary standards for workplace coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) exposures: COVID-19 prevention, multiple COVID-19 infections and COVID-19 outbreaks, major COVID-19 outbreaks, COVID-19 prevention in employer-provided housing, and COVID-19 prevention in employer-provided transportation to and from work.