On April 20, 2021, the Department of Labor Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) issued guidance related to adverse reactions after receiving a COVID-19 vaccination. According to the guidance, an adverse reaction to the COVID-19 vaccine is recordable in the OSHA record-keeping log if the reaction is: 1) work-related; 2) a new case, and 3)
On April 9, 2021, the White House issued a press release announcing its nomination of Douglas Parker (Parker) for the position of Assistant Secretary for the Occupational and Health Administration (OSHA). Parker is currently the chief of California’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) and has held the position since 2019. Prior to 2019,
As mandated by President Biden’s January 21 Executive Order, OSHA has announced a National Emphasis Program (NEP) designed to protect workers from contracting COVID-19. On March 12, 2021, OSHA announced its new national emphasis program that targets high-risk establishments in high-risk industries for programmed inspections and provides a heightened focus on employers that retaliate against
One year into the pandemic, MSHA has released new guidance to help miners and operators identify the risks of being exposed to COVID-19 at work and to help them determine appropriate control measures to reduce the risk of contracting the virus. During a stakeholder call on March 3, 2021, Jeannette Galanis, MSHA’s new Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy, acknowledged that many mine operators already have rules addressing COVID-19 mitigation. It was made clear on the call that this guidance was advisory in nature. However, agency representatives said they were still considering the need for an Emergency Temporary Standard addressing COVID-19 mitigation.
Continue Reading MSHA Announces New Guidelines on Mitigating and Preventing the Spread of COVID-19
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.
Continue Reading As OSHA considers ETS, what do various states already require?
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.
Continue Reading OSHA Posts New Guidance on Mitigating and Preventing the Spread of COVID-19 in the Workplace
On January 21, 2021, President Biden signed an executive order directing the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to issue revised guidance to employers on workplace safety during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Continue Reading President Biden Orders OSHA to Release New COVID-19 Guidance
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.
Continue Reading What can you do to support vaccination? Download our vaccine planning checklist for employers.
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.
Continue Reading EEOC issues COVID-19 vaccine guidance, allowing employer mandates
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.
Continue Reading Employer vaccine update: As FDA reviews vaccines, drug makers report limited supplies