By Benjamin D. Briggs, Patrick D. Joyce, and Craig B. Simonsen
Seyfarth Synopsis: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has updated its original recommendation for all people to wear cloth face coverings when in public and around other people, now acknowledging that face coverings not only protect others, but also
By James L. Curtis, Adam R. Young, and Craig B. Simonsen
Seyfarth Synopsis: Oregon became the first state to decriminalize the personal possession of illegal drugs, including cocaine, heroin, oxycodone, and methamphetamine.
Oregon voters passed Measure 110 last week by a wide margin. The ballot measure reclassified possession of small amounts of a
By Brent I. Clark, Patrick D. Joyce, and Craig B. Simonsen
Seyfarth Synopsis: The Michigan Supreme Court recently ruled that Michigan Governor Whitmer lacked the authority to declare a “state of emergency” or a “state of disaster” beyond April 30, 2020, and that the authority delegated to the Governor under the Emergency
By Brent I. Clark, Mark A. Lies, II, Adam R. Young, and Craig B. Simonsen
Seyfarth Synopsis: With Hurricane Laura drenching the Gulf Coast, employers are facing daunting emergencies, safety and health risks, property damage, employee disruption, and re-building.
Introduction
Authorities are closely monitoring the ongoing hurricane season as Hurricane Laura
By Helen M. McFarland and Amanda J. Hailey
Seyfarth Synopsis: The Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) issued its first citation against an employer for violating Washington’s Safe Start Order.
As set forth in our May 28, 2020 blog post “Prohibited Business Activities and Conditions for Operations,” the State of Washington is
By James L. Curtis, Mark A. Lies, II, Patrick D. Joyce, Adam R. Young, and Craig B. Simonsen
Seyfarth Synopsis: OSHA Administrator Loren Sweatt recently blogged related to heat illness in the workplace as “forecasters are calling for above-average heat in some parts of the country and scorching temperatures in
By Jaclyn Gross and Chantelle C. Egan
Seyfarth Synopsis: As counties begin loosening local restrictions and summer approaches, and in an effort to preempt a rise in COVID-19 cases, the California Department of Public Health issued a directive mandating that residents statewide wear face coverings.
Before last week, California only recommended that residents wear
By Chris DeMeo, Adam R. Young, and Craig B. Simonsen
Seyfarth Synopsis: CDC and OSHA issues specific guidance related to COVID-19 policies, administrative controls, engineering controls, personal protective equipment, and face masks for the nursing home industry.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, nursing homes and care facilities have instituted significant precautions and protocols
By Benjamin D. Briggs, Brent I. Clark, Ilana R. Morady and Craig B. Simonsen
Seyfarth Synopsis: The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) published this week a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) on changes to “hours of service” (HOS) rules to “increase safety on America’s roadways.” The proposal
By Sam Witton, Jane Hall, Paul Cutrone, and Sarah Goodhew
Seyfarth Synopsis: It is widely proclaimed that we are in the midst of the “Fourth Industrial Revolution” (4IR). The leaps and bounds that are being made daily in information technology and biotechnology signal the end of homo sapiens or