Copyright
Wednesday, December 22, 2021
Household Contacts can sue an employer for harm caused by COVID
Sunday, December 19, 2021
OMG, Omicron!
A panel of infectious disease experts and public health specialists of the Veterans Administration who have been involved in the national COVID response discuss strategies to contain the spread of the Omicron variant and stay safe.
Friday, December 10, 2021
Workers’ Compensation Benefits for Long COVID
Workers’ Compensation Benefits are available for those workers who have been exposed to COVID at work and contract disease and remain ill from Long COVID.
Is the Workers' Compensation System Prepared for Omicron (Updated 12/10/21)
Wednesday, December 1, 2021
NY AG Seeks Emergency Relief to Protect Rights and Safety of Amazon Workers
Wednesday, November 17, 2021
Amazon Settles with California Over Concealment of COVID Data From Warehouse Workers COVID-19
Historically workers have been denied adequate occupational exposure information, which has led to epidemics of disease/death and lawsuit, including workers' compensation claims. Exposure to the SARS-CoV-2 (Coronavirus) virus has been no exception.
Friday, October 22, 2021
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.
Monday, October 18, 2021
Across Two Separate Settlements, EPA Commits to Expedite and Strengthen Asbestos Risk Reevaluation Under TSCA
The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO), an independent nonprofit dedicated to preventing asbestos exposure, announced it had reached two landmark legal settlements with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that strengthen and broaden its work to evaluate the health risks of asbestos under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).
Thursday, October 14, 2021
COVID Boosters: What Employees and Employers Need to Know
Many employers and state governments are mandating that employees be vaccinated against COVID. Confusion remains over the rapidly changing landscape of booster doses as reports of waning or compromised immunity even though a worker is considered “fully vaccinated” when the original series of doses are completed.
Monday, September 27, 2021
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.
Tuesday, September 21, 2021
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
Thursday, August 19, 2021
Rules Proposed to End NJ Pension Cost Shifting
The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development [DLWD] has proposed Rules that will adopt the recommendations of NJ State Comptroller. A February 2021 investigative report by the NJ State Comptroller raised critical issues common to other state and national collateral social insurance programs challenged by current fiscal limitations. The deadline for written comments is October 15, 2021.
Saturday, August 14, 2021
OSHA issues updated guidance on protecting unvaccinated and other at-risk workers from the coronavirus
U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration today issued updated guidance to help employers protect workers from the coronavirus. The updated guidance reflects developments in science and data, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's updated COVID-19 guidance issued July 27.
NJ Announces Indoor Mask Requirement for Beginning of 2021-2022 School Year
Joined by educators, medical professionals, parents, and school administrators, NJ Governor Phil Murphy today announced that all students, educators, staff, and visitors will be required to wear face masks indoors for the start of the 2021-2022 school year. The Governor signed Executive Order (EO) 251, which will mandate masking in the indoor premises of all public, private, and parochial preschool, elementary, and secondary school buildings, with limited exceptions. The EO is effective on Monday, August 9, 2021.
Wednesday, August 11, 2021
California appeals court upholds verdict against Monsanto for Roundup exposure
Friday, July 30, 2021
To Mask or Un-mask: What the Delta Variant Means to You
Infectious disease experts discuss the issues of masking, the Delta variant, and predictions of COVID going forward. A panel discussion - 30 minutes. Broadcast, Thursday, July 29, 2021.
Monday, July 26, 2021
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.
Sunday, July 18, 2021
OSHA Cites Dental Practice for Coronavirus Retaliation
The U.S. Department of Labor has taken legal action against two North Texas dentists on behalf of a dental hygienist and a dental assistant who were not reinstated after expressing concerns about what coronavirus safety measures would be in place when the practice reopened in spring 2020.
Thursday, July 15, 2021
Annual respirator fit-testing again required by OSHA
On July 7, 2021, the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration issues an Updated Interim Enforcement Response Plan for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) regarding enforcement discretion for periodic respiratory protection equipment shortages and associated constraints (i.e., fit-testing supplies and provision of related services) during the COVID-19 pandemic.