State Laws

Olympia, WA — The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office may continue to seek a manslaughter conviction against a construction company owner whose employee died in a trench collapse, the Washington State Supreme Court ruled Feb. 4.

Richmond, VA — Virginia has become the first state/commonwealth to establish a long-term COVID-19 workplace standard.

Sacramento, CA — The California Department of Public Health has directed general acute-care hospitals to conduct weekly COVID-19 testing of all health care workers and newly admitted patients, along with immediately testing employees with signs or symptoms of the disease.

Washington — Although some state drug laws recently have been revised to legalize marijuana, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration is reminding officials that the federal government’s Drug-Free Workplace Program has not changed.

Sacramento, CA – California’s emergency temporary standard requiring employers to protect workers from COVID-19-related hazards is now in effect after being approved Nov. 30 by the state’s Office of Administrative Law.

Tumwater, WA — Washington state has taken the first step in the rulemaking process to address worker exposure to wildfire smoke.

Trenton, NJ — New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) on Oct. 28 signed an Executive Order that will require all employers in the state to follow health and safety protocols designed to protect workers from exposure to COVID-19.

Sacramento, CA — A bill signed into law Sept. 29 by California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) will require certain hospitals in the state to create and maintain at least a three-month supply of personal protective equipment, and ensure nurses and other health care workers use the PPE supplied to them.

Lansing, MI — Michigan OSHA, along with the state’s Department of Labor and Employment Opportunity, has launched a program intended to support and educate employers – via one-on-one consultation – on workplace safety regulations related to the COVID-19 pandemic.