With the onslaught of the pandemic in 2020, many employers were busy dealing with staffing issues, safety concerns, and COVID-19–related legislation. There may have been little to no.
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It’s hard to keep up with all the recent changes to labor and employment law. While the law always seems to evolve at a rapid pace, there have been an unprecedented number of changes for the past few years and this past month was no exception.
In fact, there were so many significant developments taking place during the past month that we were once again forced to expand our monthly summary well beyond the typical “Top 10” list. In order to make sure that you stay on top of the latest changes, here is a quick review of the Top 18 stories from last month that all employers need to know about:
Covid-19 response Establish response coordinators: This group isn’t just responsible for ensuring proper distribution of personal protective equipment, tests and vaccines. They are also charged with ensuring the federal government reduces racial disparities. Read more » Mobilizing a Global Response to Combat Covid-19 on 20 Jan 2021 Improve data collection: This is part of Biden’s efforts to coordinate an equitable response to the pandemic and.
Friday, February 5, 2021
On January 29, 2021, and in accordance with President Biden’s Executive Order on Protecting Worker Health and Safety, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued guidance focused on mitigating and preventing the spread of COVID-19 in workplaces outside of the healthcare industry. The guidance does not expressly create any new legal obligations for employers, but instead outlines OSHA’s perspective as to best practices. The guidance also reminds employers that they already have enforceable obligations under existing federal regulations, including the obligation to provide a workplace free from recognized hazards such as COVID-19.
OSHA’s guidance encourages employers to implement a COVID-19 prevention program as the most effective way to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. The guidance emphasizes employee involvement, communication and training as best practices.
New OSHA Guidance for COVID-19 Prevention Programs Tuesday, February 2, 2021
On January 29, 2021, OSHA released new COVID-19 guidance in accordance with the January 21, 2021 Executive Order on Protecting Worker Health and Safety. The new guidance, entitled “Protecting Workers: Guidance on Mitigating and Preventing the Spread of COVID-19 in the Workplace,” emphasizes the importance of implementing a COVID-19 prevention program; underscores the importance of clear communication, training, and protection from retaliation; and reminds employers of existing OSHA requirements that are applicable to COVID-19 hazards.
COVID-19 Prevention Programs
The guidance emphasizes the importance of implementing a “COVID-19 Prevention Program.” According to OSHA, an effective COVID-19 Prevention Program should be developed and implemented with the engagement of workers and workers’ representatives, and include the following elements: