On Nov. 6, 2020, the Oregon Occupational Safety and Health agency (Oregon OSHA) announced an emergency temporary standard designed to protect workers in Oregon from exposure to Coronavirus Disease 2019
Continue Reading Oregon Becomes Third State to Adopt COVID-19-Related Workplace Health and Safety Standard
On Oct. 14, 2020, the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA), the agency charged with enforcing workplace safety regulations at Michigan workplaces, adopted an emergency safety and health rule
Continue Reading Michigan Becomes Second State to Adopt COVID-19-Related Workplace Health and Safety Standard
On Oct. 27, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy signed Executive Order 192, the latest executive order issued under the ongoing Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) state of emergency. Effective Nov.
Continue Reading New Jersey Orders Employers to Implement Specific COVID-19 Workplace Safety Protocols
New to 2020, Illinois employers of all sizes must conduct sexual harassment prevention training by Dec. 31. This training requirement is part of the Illinois Workplace Transparency Act, which
Continue Reading Illinois Workplace Harassment Training Deadline Fast-Approaching
As summarized in a previous GT blog post, California’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy established criteria for easing and tightening restrictions on the activities of California residents and businesses based on counties’ Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection rates. When the system took effect initially on Aug. 31, the state assigned each county one of four color-coded tiers – Widespread (purple), Substantial (red), Moderate (orange), or Minimal (yellow) – based on two factors: average daily case rate and test positivity rate. To move into a less restrictive tier, a county must meet the criteria for the less restrictive tier for the previous two weeks.
Effective Oct. 6, a third criterion took effect. The California Health Equity Metric is intended to reduce disparities of COVID-19 transmission in disadvantaged communities hardest-hit by the virus and is reportedly the first of its kind at the state level in the nation. The metric has two components.
Continue Reading The Carrot and the Stick: California Becomes First State in the Nation to Condition Business Reopening on Reduced COVID-19 Transmission in Disadvantaged Communities
Just one week after its release on July 24, California has already issued an updated version of its COVID-19 Employer Playbook for a Safe Reopening, which is intended to offer
Continue Reading Don’t Forget to Check, and Re-Check, the California Reopening Guidelines
On July 14, 2020, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis signed SB20-205, known as the “Healthy Families and Workplaces Act” (the Act), into law. The law is an overhaul of Colorado’s
Continue Reading Colorado Passes the Healthy Families and Workplaces Act
This week California ordered the re-closure of certain higher risk workplaces, in response to an increase in the spread of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in some parts of the state.
Continue Reading California Makes A U-Turn
On July 15, 2020, Virginia’s Safety and Health Codes Board (Board), the body that establishes Virginia Occupational Safety and Health regulations and standards, approved workplace safety regulations related to Coronavirus
Continue Reading Virginia Becomes First State to Adopt COVID-19-Related Workplace Health and Safety Standard
In advance of Philadelphia entering the “green” phase and many businesses reopening, the Philadelphia City Council unanimously passed the Essential Workers Protection Act (Bill No. 200328) on June 25 and
Continue Reading Philadelphia City Council Passes Bill Prohibiting Employers from Retaliating Against Workers for Speaking Out About COVID-19 Safety Violations