By Benjamin D. Briggs, Patrick D. Joyce, Adam R. Young, and Craig B. Simonsen
Seyfarth Synopsis: In late May, Virginia Governor Ralph Northam directed the state’s Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) to develop emergency temporary standards to prevent workplace exposure to COVID-19. Those rules were adopted on July 15, 2020.
Federal OSHA has only issued
Continue Reading Virginia Adopts Emergency Workplace Safety Regulations
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 July and August.” Sweatt suggests
Continue Reading Heat Illness – A Phantom Menace: Sweatt Blogs on Safety Measures and Heat Illness in the Workplace
By James L. Curtis, Ilana R. Morady, Adam R. Young, Patrick D. Joyce, and Craig B. Simonsen
Seyfarth Synopsis: Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued Guidance to assist employers reopening non-essential businesses ensure the safety of their employees and the public during the evolving coronavirus pandemic.
The new Guidance on Returning to Work
Continue Reading OSHA Issues New Guidance As Non-Essential Businesses Reopen and Employees Return to Work
By James L. Curtis and Craig B. Simonsen
Seyfarth Synopsis: The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) had brought suit in the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals against the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration, through an Emergency Petition For A Writ Of Mandamus, and Request For Expedited Briefing And Disposition, No.
Continue Reading DC Circuit Court Denies Union’s Suit Against OSHA to Force Emergency Temporary Worker Safety Standard
By James L. Curtis, Adam R. Young, and Craig B. Simonsen
Seyfarth Synopsis: OSHA issued its first COVID-19 citation to a Georgia nursing home. The citation alleges a failure to report within 24-hours a work-related incident resulting in hospital admissions.
As discussed in our prior blog, OSHA has issued new enforcement procedures for COVID-19 cases
Continue Reading OSHA Issues First COVID-19 Citation for Untimely Reporting of Hospitalizations
By Daniel B. Klein, Adam R. Young, Patrick D. Joyce, and Craig B. Simonsen
Seyfarth Synopsis: In the last two weeks, the CDC has updated the list of symptoms for COVID-19 on several occasions, eliminating the “two or more” list and adding “less common” symptoms and emergency warning signs.
Continue Reading CDC Revises Symptoms List for Coronavirus (COVID-19) Screening
By James L. Curtis, Brent I. Clark, Mark A. Lies, II, Adam R. Young, Matthew A. Sloan, and Craig B. Simonsen
Seyfarth Synopsis: In Rural Community Worker’s Alliance et al v. Smithfield Foods, Inc. et al., No. 5:20-cv-6063 (W.D. Mo. May 5, 2020), Western District of
Continue Reading Judge Dismisses Lawsuit Seeking to Enjoin Employer to Implement Additional Safety Measures
By James L. Curtis, Mark A. Lies, II, Adam R. Young, Patrick D. Joyce, and Craig B. Simonsen
Seyfarth Synopsis: As we approach the heat of the summer season and as employers begin to re-open after months of COVID-19 quarantine, workers may be out of shape, out of practice on workplace safety procedures, and may
Continue Reading Heat Illness Strikes Back: Return to Work’s Untold Story
By James L. Curtis, Patrick D. Joyce, and Craig B. Simonsen
Seyfarth Synopsis: The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued an alert with safety tips for the restaurant and food and beverage industries to protect their workers from coronavirus exposure while they provide curbside pickup and takeout service to customers. The safety tips provide
Continue Reading OSHA Issues Alert with Safety Tips for the Restaurant and Food and Beverages Industries
By James L. Curtis, Mark A. Lies, II, Adam R. Young, Matthew A. Sloan, and Craig B. Simonsen
Seyfarth Synopsis: Last week, the President issued an Executive Order under the Defense Production Act of 1950 to protect the continued operation of the nation’s meat and poultry processors during
Continue Reading President Issues Executive Order To Protect Continued Operation of Nation’s Meat Processors; OSHA Adopts Enforcement Discretion