CWS Meets with OIRA on OSHA’s COVID-19 ETS

On May 4, 2021, representatives from CWS met with the Office of Information & Regulatory Affairs to discuss a potential COVID-19-related Emergency Temporary Standard from OSHA. While details of the ETS have not yet been released, CWS raised many of the employer community’s general concerns with a rigid, one-size-fits-all approach to protecting workers during the…

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Oregon OSHA Issues COVID-19 Safety Standard

On November 6, Oregon’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration enacted an emergency rule on COVID-19. Under the rule, employers will be required to conduct assessments on the risks their workers face in contracting COVID-19 in the workplace. They will also be required to have an infection control plan in place.   The rule will go into effect…

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New Jersey COVID-19 Mandates Go into Effect

As of November 5, all employers in the state of New Jersey are required to comply with Governor Murphy’s Executive Order 192, which creates numerous safety and health requirements related to COVID-19. The requirements are targeted to specific industries as well as the employer community generally.   The order also creates an interagency enforcement program between the state’s…

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OSHA Issues COVID-19 Guidance on Ventilation

On November 4, OSHA issued new guidance on ventilation in the workplace. OSHA recommends, “Employers should work with a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) professional to consider steps to optimize building ventilation.” The guidance provides several tips on how employers can help reduce the risk of employee exposure to COVID-19.

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Maryland Safety Agency Accused of Failing Workers

The Public Justice Center, a Baltimore-based public interest law firm, is calling on Governor Hogan (R) and the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to take action against Maryland’s Occupational Safety and Health agency (MOSH) for failing to protect workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.   On October 16, the Public Justice Center filed a Complaint About…

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Michigan OSHA Issues COVID-19 Emergency Safety Rules

On October 14, the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued its COVID-19-related emergency safety rules. The rules require employers in the state to assess exposure risk of employees, create a virus response plan, and establish cleaning and training procedures. Specific industries are also targeted for additional requirements; these include food processing, manufacturing, construction, retail, and…

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OSHA Issues New FAQ on Use of N95 Respirators Against Coronavirus

Washington, D.C. – On October 19, OSHA issued a new frequently asked question (FAQ) on “how N95 respirators effectively protect wearers from coronavirus exposure. The FAQ was issued in response to incorrect claims that the respirators do not adequately protect individuals from the virus.   OSHA explains that the masks use a combination of factors, including mechanical filtration and…

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Oregon OSHA Prepares COVID-19 Temporary Standard

Washington, D.C. – On September 25, Oregon’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued a near final draft of its COVID-19 Temporary Standard, which establishes COVID-19 safety precautions for all workplaces. Among other things, the standard proposes:   strict physical distancing requirements; personal protective equipment (PPE) mandates; sanitation measures; required postings, employee communications, and training; and protocols…

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OSHA Issues New FAQs on Reporting Work-Related Cases of COVID-19

Washington, D.C. – On September 30, OSHA added three new frequently asked questions to its comprehensive COVID-19 guidance for employers. The new questions provided much needed insight into how employers should report work-related cases of coronavirus. CWS applauds and thanks OSHA for its continued commitment to guiding the employer community through this complicated and unprecedented period.

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OSHA Now Publicizing Annual Injury and Illness Reports

Washington, D.C. – OSHA has begun posting employers’ injury and illness annual summary reports (Form 300A submissions) on its website. The website currently includes data from 2016 through 2018. OSHA has not announced when 2019 data will be posted. The Form 300A reporting mandate applies to all workplaces with 250 or more employees and locations…

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