On September 6, 2021, New York state’s commissioner of health designated COVID-19 a highly contagious communicable disease that presents a serious risk of harm to the public health under New York state’s HERO Act (the Act)....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
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
The initial effective date of June 4, 2021, for New York’s HERO Act (“HERO”) is rapidly approaching, and soon all employers in New York will be required to adopt and implement model airborne infectious disease standards to be...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
Restaurants should be on higher alert for potential inspections from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in light of the agency’s recent Updated Interim Enforcement Response Plan for COVID-19 and National...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 New York Health and Essential Rights Act (HERO Act), which requires employers to implement new workplace health and safety protections in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, is on its way to becoming law. Both houses...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
On March 1, 2021, the New York State Senate passed the NY HERO ACT (Senate Bill S1034A) (the Act), which, if enacted into law, would require businesses to implement enforceable safety standards to prevent further spread of...more
On January 29, 2021, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) published “Protecting Workers: Guidance on Mitigating and Preventing the Spread of COVID-19 in the Workplace.” The Guidance incorporates much of...more
With the holiday shopping season in full swing, now is a good time for retail employers to review their policies and procedures to protect workers from exposure to COVID-19. Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act,...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
On November 6, 2020, Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Agency (OR-OSHA) adopted the Temporary Oregon OSHA COVID-19 Rule (the Rule) aimed at addressing the effects of the pandemic on the workplace. Unless otherwise...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 November 2, 2020, the Acting Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs in New Jersey issued DCA Administrative Order No. 2020-20, ordering, "Veterinarians are authorized to provide the full scope of veterinary...more
On October 23, 2020, Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Agency (OR-OSHA) issued its fourth draft of the Temporary Oregon OSHA COVID-19 Rule (the Rule) aimed at addressing the effects of the pandemic on the workplace. The...more
Effective November 5, 2020, New Jersey employers are required to take additional safety precautions to protect their workforce from COVID-19. As a result of Executive Order 192, New Jersey employers will be required to: ...more
On September 25, 2020, Oregon Occupational Safety and Health (“Oregon OSHA”) issued its draft COVID-19 Temporary Standard. Oregon OSHA intends to adopt this Temporary Standard later this week, with an anticipated effective...more
This 21st edition of Unprecedented, our weekly update on COVID-19-related litigation, pairs defense victories with new claims. Lenders obtained the dismissal of a lawsuit claiming agent fees under the PPP program, and...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
Many cities and states have issued guidance regarding face coverings, social distancing, and other safety measures for employees. When each state has different, rapidly evolving guidance, and sometimes conflicting guidance,...more