Biden Administration Targets Occupational Exposure to PFAS

The Biden-Harris Administration announced accelerated efforts to protect American workers from per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which can cause severe health problems and persist in the environment once released, posing a severe threat across rural, suburban, and urban areas. 

CDC Approves Pfizer Booster Dose for those at increased risk for COVID-19 exposure and transmission because of occupational settings

CDC Director Rochelle P. Walensky, M.D., M.P.H., endorsed the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices' (ACIP) recommendation for a booster shot of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine in specific populations and also recommended a booster dose for those in high risk occupational and institutional settings.

Warehouse Workers' Injuries Are Increasing as Employers Use Artificial Intelligence

An increase of injuries suffered by warehouse workers, fueled by employers' use of artificial intelligence, is getting legislative attention. The focus is on Amazon and other major retail giants whose business has exploded since the COVID Pandemic emerged.

NJ Governor Murphy Signs Executive Order Instituting Vaccination or Testing Requirement for All Child Care Center Personnel

NJ Governor Phil Murphy signed Executive Order No. 264, requiring all child care center personnel to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by November 1 or be subject to COVID-19 testing at minimum one to two times per week. Additionally, effective September 24, and in accordance with CDC recommendations, the Order also clarifies that all employees, visitors, students, and children aged two and over must wear facemasks indoors, with limited exceptions. These requirements will strengthen protections against COVID-19 to children in these settings who are all under 12 years old and not yet eligible for vaccination.

Investing for the Next Pandemic

Preparing for the next pandemic is an essential need for all employers, employees, and insurance companies.  The failure of the public health system to handle COVID-19 is evident as the death toll (675,400) fatalities) has now exceeded the 1918 Spanish Flu mortality rate.  The US CDC is encouraging preparation by announcing the opportunity for final investment. It is also incumbent upon the workers’ compensation industry to expand its efforts for pandemic preparation  

California Implements First-in-the-Nation Measures to Encourage State Employees and Health Care Workers to Get Vaccinated

The State of California is taking decisive action to combat the spread of COVID-19 and protect vulnerable communities – implementing a first-in-the-nation standard to require all state workers and workers in health care and high-risk congregate settings to either show proof of full vaccination or be tested at least once per week, and encourage all local government and other employers to adopt a similar protocol.

VA mandates COVID-19 vaccines among its medical employees including VHA facilities staff

Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough announced he will make COVID-19 vaccines mandatory for Title 38 VA health care personnel — including physicians, dentists, podiatrists, optometrists, registered nurses, physician assistants, expanded-function dental auxiliaries and chiropractors — who work in Veterans Health Administration facilities, visit VHA facilities or provide direct care to those VA serves.

HHS Announces $103 Million from American Rescue Plan to Strengthen Resiliency and Address Burnout in the Health Workforce

 The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), announced the availability of an estimated $103 million in American Rescue Plan funding over a three-year period to reduce burnout and promote mental health among the health workforce. 

OSHA issues updated enforcement guidance for inspections

The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued a memorandum updating its enforcement guidance for compliance safety and health officers (CSHOs) when inspecting tree care and tree removal operations.

Vaccines highly effective against hospitalization from Delta variant

An encouraging analysis by PHE shows for the first time that two doses of COVID-19 vaccines are highly effective against hospitalization from the Delta (B.1.617.2) variant. Unfortunately, those who aren’t vaccinated face increased risk. 

OSHA Finally Acts: Is It Too Little and Too Late?

Today OSHA released a COVID Emergency Temporary Standard [ETS] for health care workers and guidance for workers, not in a health care setting. OSHA’s action comes about a year and a half after the COVID-19 Pandemic began and when over half of the nation’s workforce has already the protection of received an initial vaccination.

Neurological symptoms like fatigue common in mild COVID

Neurological and psychiatric symptoms such as fatigue and depression are common among people with Covid-19 and maybe just as likely in people with mild cases, according to a new review study led by a UCL researcher.

NJ Governor Murphy Signs Legislation and Executive Order Ending COVID-19 Public Health Emergency

With all COVID-19 capacity restrictions on businesses and gathering limits having been lifted due to the continued improvement of New Jersey’s public health metrics, Governor Phil Murphy today signed legislation (A5820/S3866) enabling the end of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency that has been in place since March 9, 2020. Immediately following the signing of the legislation, Governor Murphy signed Executive Order No. 244, ending the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency. Under the legislation, the majority of executive orders issued pursuant to the Public Health Emergency will expire 30 days from today.

Dental Professionals at Increased Risk for COVID-19

Dental professionals for increased risk of COVID-19 infection a newly published study reports.

U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Issues Update On Vaccinations

The following is shared from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission eeoc.gov 

VA To Expand Medical Care for Burn Pit Claims

The Secretary of the US Veterans Administration announced today a major policy change regarding burn pit exposures.

COVID-19: A lesson for the workers’ compensation industry

Michael Lewis’s new book, The Premonition, is about three characters and their struggle to alert the Nation about the COVID-19 pandemic. The book offers a shocking insight into the mismanagement of the public health care system. The workers’ compensation industry lacked adequate information to prepare for the epidemic properly. It must address this deficiency in the future.

OSHA: ETS and COVID-19 - CRS issues an updated report April 2021

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) does not currently have a specific standard that protects health care or other workers from airborne or aerosol transmission of disease or diseases transmitted by airborne droplets. 

NJ Governor Murphy Signs the Healthy Terminals Act

NJ Governor Phil Murphy today signed the Healthy Terminals Act (S989) which creates new minimum wage and benefits requirements for certain Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) and Newark Liberty International Train Station workers. The legislation will expand access to livable wages and affordable health care for workers at the airport and train station who often cannot afford employer-provided health care plans.

NJ Supreme Holds Employers Responsible for Workers' Compensation Medical Marijuana Costs

The NJ Supreme has recognized that the workers’ compensation system has a legislative mandate to provide the safest medical care to cure and relieve occupational injuries. The Court acknowledged both state and Federal trends to provide non-addictive and non-fatal pain relief in place of the dangerous opioids. 

 

The intent that embraced the creation and development of the social insurance system has given the Court a rational and logical basis, consistent with public policy, to order medical marijuana for palliative care.