Tag: COVID-19

California and COVID-19

Cal/OSHA Fines Farm, Staffing Agencies for COVID-19 Violations

The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) cited Foster Poultry Farms, Inc., of Livingston and four staffing agencies for not protecting workers from COVID-19. The agency proposed that Foster Farms pay fines totaling $181,500.

Safety team, COVID-19 standard

COVID-19 Policies in Flux at Federal, State Levels

Federal and state workplace safety and health authorities have yet to provide employers with clear guidance after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) lifted recommendations for face coverings and social distancing for people fully vaccinated for COVID-19.

COVID-19 safety in the workplace

NSC Weighs in on Updated COVID-19 Guidance from CDC

On May 14, the National Safety Council (NSC) expressed cautious support for updated COVID-19 recommendations for fully vaccinated people from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC stated on May 13 that fully vaccinated people no longer need to wear a mask or maintain physical distance from others in any indoor or […]

Workplace masks and distancing

CDC Mask Guidance: Employers Should Not Overreact

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) announcement that people fully vaccinated against COVID-19 can shed their masks in many settings, including indoors, no doubt came as welcome news to mask-weary workers, but employers are warned not to relax rules too quickly.

New York state COVID-19

New York HERO Act Authorizes Establishment of State COVID-19 Standard

On May 5, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo (D) signed the HERO Act (S.1034B/A.2681B) into law, authorizing the state’s labor commissioner to establish a workplace safety and health standard for COVID-19 exposures. While the law applies to all workplaces in the state, under current federal regulations (29 CFR 1952.24), New York is only authorized to […]

Training management

Safety Training: Revisiting Your Program

Is your safety training ready for a post-pandemic return to normality? Do you have employees returning to on-site work who need refresher training or new hires who need initial safety training as part of the onboarding process?

Oregon and COVID-19, Oregon OSHA, mask

Permanent COVID-19 Rule Adopted in Oregon

With its emergency temporary standard (ETS) expiring, the Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Administration (Oregon OSHA) adopted a permanent safety and health standard to protect workers from COVID-19 exposures. The new standard became effective May 4 and remains in force until repealed.

COVID-19 training list

COVID-19 Safety Training Tips as Employees Return On-Site

As more and more organizations bring employees back on-site, including those that always kept employees on-site, we must continue to be aware of COVID-19 and what it means for employers and employees as the economy picks back up.

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.