A group of 23 AGs led by Florida AG Ashley Moody filed an amicus brief in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit arguing that the CDC did not have the statutory authority to impose a nationwide transportation mask...more
As more contagious variants of the virus spread across the United States and the world, it is important to stay up to date on best practices with respect to mitigating the spread of COVID-19. To that end, BarBend – a team of...more
On August 13, 2021, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) updated its “Guidance on Mitigating and Preventing the Spread of COVID-19 in the Workplace.” The guidance was originally released on January 29,...more
Exercising its authority under Section 6(c) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act, the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued its COVID-19 Healthcare Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) on June...more
When the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) rolled out its COVID-19 Healthcare Emergency Temporary Standard on June 10, 2021, it also issued its updated Guidance on Mitigating and Preventing the Spread of...more
On June 10, 2021 OSHA issued its COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) for the health care industry, along with general guidance for all other employers, which we already touched on in a previous post. However, there...more
On June 10, 2021, OSHA released the long-awaited COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) for workplace safety during the COVID-19 pandemic. The ETS requirements are limited to workers in the healthcare industry, and the...more
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has offered new COVID-19 guidance indicating that fully vaccinated individuals no longer need to wear masks or maintain physical distance from others in most settings...more
Earlier this month, the CDC changed its guidance regarding when fully vaccinated individuals could safely and appropriately be indoors and outdoors without nose and mouth coverings. More recently, OSHA adopted the CDC’s...more
New York has passed the New York Health and Essential Rights Act (“NY HERO Act”), which is set to go into effect on June 4, 2021. The NY HERO Act strives to protect workers from airborne diseases, whether they be COVID-19 or...more
Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker has announced the state will lift its COVID-19 restrictions and adopt the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) face covering guidance on May 29, 2021. The City of Boston...more
Frustrated by constantly shifting guidance and shortages of respirators and other personal protective equipment experienced in 2020, employers are rejecting Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) citations for...more
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) recent Updated Interim Enforcement Response Plan for COVID-19 (Response Plan) was issued on the same day it announced its National Emphasis Program (NEP)...more
As COVID-19 vaccines become more available, companies in the fitness industry, including gyms, health clubs, and fitness boutiques, continue to navigate their reopening plans. This article addresses questions companies in the...more
After a year of frequently changing guidance and requirements for construction firms, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued new Guidance on Mitigating and Preventing the Spread of COVID-19 in the...more
On Friday, February 12, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released additional guidance addressing recommended practices in the reopening of schools, titled Operational Strategy for K-12 Schools through...more
Effective Friday, November 20, 2020, new COVID-19 requirements go into effect in Colorado. On November 17, 2020, Colorado issued new COVID-19 requirements for businesses and activities in the First Amended Public Health...more
In an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19, California on Aug. 31 released the Blueprint for a Safer Economy, with revised criteria for loosening and tightening restrictions on business, health and recreational activities at...more
We recently published an article about the Temporary Rule Oregon OSHA issued for workplaces in the State of Oregon. That article covered the provisions of the Rule applicable to all workplaces in the State of Oregon. The Rule...more
In response to the recent increased spread of Coronavirus in Ohio, Governor DeWine and the Ohio Department of Health have enacted several new Orders affecting all Ohio residents. Namely, in addition to existing protocols and...more
Stepping in line behind Virginia and Michigan, the Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“Oregon OSHA”) issued a Temporary Rule Addressing COVID-19 Workplace Risks (“Temporary Rule”) requiring Oregon employers...more
On August 17, 2020, Oregon become one of the first states in the country to propose formal rules for the workplace related to COVID-19. Oregon OSHA is currently accepting public comment through August 31, 2020, on the draft...more
In Washington: The White House denies that it is trying to undermine the nation’s top disease expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci. Today the President’s trade advisor, Peter Navarro blasted Dr. Fauci’s handling of the coronavirus in...more
Sacramento has passed the Sacramento Worker Protection, Health and Safety Act (Ordinance No. 2020-00260) which is effective as of July 15, 2020. The ordinance requires all employers operating in the City of Sacramento to...more
On Monday May 18, 2020, Governor Baker announced the first phase of his administration’s much-anticipated plan to reopen Massachusetts (the “Plan”), nearly eight weeks after first ordering non-essential businesses to close...more