Recently, the United States General Accounting Office (GAO), which is a nonpartisan agency in the legislative branch, took on oversight of the executive branch agency, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). In...more
In the midst of the pandemic, meat processing facilities have struggled to meet demand while protecting employees. Governmental regulations, orders and guidelines often have seemed to be inconsistent with one another. Even...more
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recently released several guidelines for various segments of the food industry to address the COVID-19 pandemic. First, CDC issued Interim...more
CDC provides updated guidance and toolkit for employers preparing to re-open - The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continues to release workplace re-opening guidance, both generally and for employers...more
Recently, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) jointly issued an interim guidance to meat and poultry processing companies to facilitate continued operations and...more
In a watershed Opinion, the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri refused to provide requested judicial intervention and relief regarding meat-processing plant safety issues raised by workers and...more
A federal court recently dismissed a suit brought by meat processing workers that asked the court to force the plant owner to comply with workplace safety guidance issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention...more
Late Tuesday, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Sonny Perdue sent letters to state governors and meat and poultry processing company leaders setting forth USDA’s expectations for continued operations during the...more
On April 28, 2020, President Trump signed an executive order (the “Order”) invoking the Defense Production Act of 1950, 50 U.S.C. 4501 et seq. (DPA) to address food supply chain disruptions caused by reduced production or...more
On May 5, 2020, United States District Judge Greg Kays issued an order dismissing a federal lawsuit against Smithfield Foods, Inc. and Smithfield Fresh Meats Corp. (collectively, “Smithfield”) related to alleged COVID-19...more
Meat processing and packing facilities around the United States have emerged as hotspots for COVID-19. While handling and processing meat and poultry does not expose workers to coronavirus, close contact with coworkers and...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have jointly released coronavirus-related interim guidance for meatpacking and meat...more
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) have issued interim guidance on COVID-19 considerations for meat and poultry processing workers and employers. This...more
On April 26, 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued guidance on COVID-19 for “Meat and Poultry Processing Workers and Employers” that is...more
Two federal agencies just released guidance for the meat and poultry packing industry to address the unique challenges it faces in light of COVID-19. The joint release from the Centers for Disease Controls and Prevention...more
On Sunday, April 26th, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Department of Labor (DOL) issued interim guidance specific to the meat and poultry processing industry to facilitate ongoing operations and...more