Workplace Solutions

Washington — OSHA is withdrawing its emergency temporary standard on COVID-19 vaccination, testing and masking, the agency announced Jan. 25.

Galveston, TX — The Biden administration can’t enforce its COVID-19 vaccine mandate for federal employees, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas ruled in a decision issued Jan. 21.

What have supply chain disruptions meant for employers who need personal protective equipment for their workers?

We have completed ergonomic risk assessments for most of our jobs. How do we get more improvements implemented?

What is the difference between an electrical risk assessment, a shock assessment and an arc flash assessment?

Washington — The Environmental Protection Agency is seeking public comment on a revised draft risk evaluation that states Cyclic Aliphatic Bromide Cluster poses unreasonable risk under certain conditions – a reversal of previous findings that the chemical substance presents no unreasonable risk of injury to humans or the environment, according to a notice published in the Dec. 29 Federal Register.

Washington — The Environmental Protection Agency is seeking comment on a draft of Part 2 of a final risk evaluation that concludes asbestos – a known human carcinogen – presents an unreasonable health risk to workers under certain conditions.

Arlington, VA — Workers who process reusable medical instruments and equipment may be regularly exposed to tissue, blood and patient fluids – even when wearing personal protective equipment, results of a recent study suggest.

Washington — Reps. Bobby Scott (D-VA) and Alma Adams (D-NC) are calling on the Department of Labor and OSHA to reverse course on the agency’s plan to withdraw the non-recordkeeping portions of its emergency temporary standard for COVID-19 focused on health care workers.

Salem, OR — Oregon OSHA has launched a Spanish-language online training course on bloodborne pathogens for health care, emergency response, hospitality and other industries.