On June 4, 2026, Governor Jared Polis signed HB 26-1272, expanding Colorado’s heat protections beyond agricultural workers to employees across all industries. The law takes effect August 12, 2026.
Colorado Passes New Extreme Temperature Standard
MSHA Makes Changes to the Citation Conferencing Process
The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) recently released changes to the conferencing system. The new structure centralizes authority under national supervisors rather than local District Managers.
OSHA Launches New CARE Initiative to Enhance Employer Compliance Support
On March 18, 2026, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced the launch of a new OSHA initiative called CARE, which stands for Customer Assistance, Resources & Engagements.
10th Circuit Backs OSHA on Hospital Workplace Violence Citation
In a February 13, 2026 decision, Cedar Springs Hospital v. Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission (OSHRC), No. 24-9519 (10th Cir. 2026), the Tenth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals reaffirmed the Occupational Health and Safety Administration’s (OSHA) authority to cite healthcare employers for workplace violence under the OSHA’s General Duty Clause. The court upheld OSHA citations issued to a Colorado psychiatric hospital, as well as related penalties against the hospital’s management company based on common ownership. The court rejected three main arguments posited by the hospital.
As OSHA considers ETS, what do various states already require?
As OSHA and the Department of Labor consider whether to issue a COVID-19 emergency temporary standard (“ETS”) for workplaces, many states have already issued their own versions of pandemic workplace rules. They range in style and substance, and federal OSHA has said that it is reviewing the existing state ETS requirements as it looks at what types of provisions to include in any national mandates.
OSHA Posts New Guidance on Mitigating and Preventing the Spread of COVID-19 in the Workplace
On January 29, 2021, OSHA posted new guidance on mitigating and preventing the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace. The latest OSHA guidance standardizes a new name for employer policies: “COVID-19 Prevention Program.” In the guidance, OSHA states employers should implement COVID-19 Prevention Programs in the workplace. Per the agency, the most effective programs engage workers and their union or other representatives in the program’s development and include the following key elements: conducting a hazard assessment; identifying a combination of measures that limit the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace; adopting measures to ensure that workers who are infected or potentially infected are separated and sent home from the workplace; and implementing protections from retaliation for workers who raise COVID-19 related concerns.
What can you do to support vaccination? Download our vaccine planning checklist for employers.
As COVID-19 vaccination rolls out in the United States, employers should begin preparing to support vaccination and consider how workplaces will be impacted. There are still many unknowns, and plans will have to remain flexible. To help companies think through these issues, we’ve put together a vaccine planning checklist.
EEOC issues COVID-19 vaccine guidance, allowing employer mandates
As vaccines roll out, employers have been asking how to prepare and whether they can mandate vaccination for their employees. This week the EEOC released fresh guidance, confirming that mandates are legal if implemented properly.
Employer vaccine update: As FDA reviews vaccines, drug makers report limited supplies
The FDA could approve two COVID-19 vaccines within a matter of days. However, drug makers have tried to keep expectations in check about how much vaccine they can deliver immediately and over the next few months as they grapple with supply chain and manufacturing challenges.
Michigan establishes state requirements for employers to protect against COVID-19
Michigan recently joined the growing list of states creating temporary emergency rules that require employers to take certain steps to protect their workforces against COVID-19. The rules by the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSH) will remain in effect for at least six months starting October 14, 2020.