Workplace Exposures

Washington — Bipartisan legislation recently introduced in the Senate would require the Mine Safety and Health Administration to issue within seven days of enactment an emergency temporary standard to help protect mine workers from exposure to COVID-19, followed by the issuance of a final rule.

Itasca, IL — The National Safety Council has issued a policy position statement calling on OSHA to immediately exercise its authority and issue an emergency temporary standard to protect workers as organizations reopen amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Washington — The Department of Transportation has announced it will distribute about 15.5 million cloth facial coverings to transportation workers during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Washington — New guidance from OSHA answers six frequently asked questions regarding the use of masks in the workplace during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

San Francisco — Mental health and well-being among nurses has declined significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic, results of a recent study show.

Washington — OSHA has published a set of tips for drivers and passengers in taxis, rideshare vehicles, limousines and other car service vehicles to help protect against exposure to COVID-19.

Washington — To help protect agriculture workers against exposure to COVID-19, recently released interim guidance from OSHA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lists measures employers should take during the pandemic.

Tumwater, WA — Ethylene oxide should not be used to sterilize filtering facepiece respirators for reuse because “this extremely hazardous toxic chemical poses a severe risk to human health,” the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries warns in a new alert.

Washington — To prevent illnesses and injuries related to environmental heat exposure, employers need to “think about preventing injuries and providing workers with the right equipment for the job,” a May 19 webinar hosted by OSHA advises.

Washington — OSHA has denied an AFL-CIO petition that asks the agency to issue an emergency temporary standard on infectious diseases amid the evolving COVID-19 pandemic, claiming the labor federation “lacks compelling evidence.”