State Laws

Lansing, MI — In addition to updating its temporary COVID-19 emergency rules intended to clarify employer requirements for protecting workers from exposure, the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration has rescinded a draft of permanent COVID-19 rules.

Olympia, WA — A new Washington state law will require construction and manufacturing employers who use temporary workers to identify and document workplace hazards, communicate those hazards to staffing agencies, and make sure workers are informed and properly trained.

New York — The New York City Council has introduced five construction safety bills and thousands of proposed amendments to the city’s building construction codes.

Charleston, WV — The West Virginia House of Delegates on March 31 passed a bill that would establish a memorial to child workers.

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.