masks in the workplace – Coronavirus (COVID-19)

June 18, 2021 by Duane Morris

Cal/OSHA Adopts New Workplace COVID-19 Standards, Providing Relief for Vaccinated Employees

On June 17, 2021, following a dizzying series of events, the California Occupational Safety and Health Administration voted to adopt new emergency temporary standards for COVID-19, revising employer obligations designed to curb the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace. In addition to bringing face coverings and social distancing requirements into alignment with federal guidance issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and a recent order by the California Department of Public Health, the new standards update what is required of employers in creating mandatory COVID-19 prevention programs, including investigating and responding to COVID-19 in the workplace and providing engineering and administrative controls.

To read the full text of this Duane Morris Alert, please visit the firm website.

June 1, 2021 by Duane Morris

CDC’s Newest Safety Guidance for the Fully Vaccinated Will Impact Employer and Business Policies

On May 13, 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated its Interim Public Health Recommendations for Fully Vaccinated People, applicable to nonhealthcare settings, providing significant freedom to the fully vaccinated to move around and interact with each other with few restrictions.

However, before employers make any changes to their health and safety protocols, they must heed the CDC’s warning to consider applicable state and local laws, including local business and workplace guidance, to determine whether they differ from the CDC’s new guidance.

To read the full text of this Duane Morris Alert, please visit the firm website.

February 24, 2021 by Duane Morris

Changes to CDC’s Mask Guidance Highlight Compliance Challenges for Employers

On February 10, 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated its Guidance for Wearing Masks and Improve How Your Mask Protects You and Improve the Fit and Filtration of Your Mask to Reduce the Spread of COVID-19 resource pages.

Pursuant to President Biden’s January 21, 2021, Executive Order on Protecting Worker Health and Safety, on January 29, 2021, OSHA issued new comprehensive COVID-19 guidance. According to this guidance aimed at employers outside of healthcare, employers should provide all workers with face coverings at no cost, unless their work task requires a respirator.

To read the full text of this Duane Morris Alert, please visit the firm website.