Vigilant Blog
News, trends and analysis in employment law, HR, safety & workers' comp
Dec
07
2021
ALERT: Nationwide hold placed on federal contractor vaccine mandate
On December 7, 2021 a federal district court in Georgia issued a nationwide order prohibiting enforcement of the federal contractor COVID-19 (coronavirus) vaccine mandate until a full hearing can be held. A coalition of states, governors, state agencies, and a construction industry trade association had sued to stop the federal…
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Dec
02
2021
OSHA vaccine mandate for employers with 100+ workers still on hold
Employers with 100 or more employees remain in limbo while awaiting a federal appeals court decision on the fate of OSHA’s regulation requiring workers to either be vaccinated against COVID-19 (coronavirus) or tested weekly. As we previously reported, the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals put a hold on OSHA’s COVID-19 Emergency…
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Dec
02
2021
OREGON Q&A: N95s used for source control aren’t PPE
Question: We’re thinking of requiring employees who aren’t vaccinated against COVID-19 (coronavirus) to wear an N95 mask at work, but would we have to implement a full respiratory protection program? Answer: No, if your primary reason for requiring an unvaccinated worker to wear a filtering facepiece respirator such as an N95 is for source…
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Dec
02
2021
Federal contractor vaccine mandate on hold in 3 states
A federal district court in Kentucky has issued a preliminary order that places the federal contractor COVID-19 (coronavirus) vaccine mandate on hold in Kentucky, Ohio, and Tennessee. Until a full hearing can be held, the court prohibited the federal government from enforcing the vaccine mandate on federal contractors in these…
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Dec
02
2021
Nationwide orders put Medicare and Medicaid vaccine mandate on hold
Two federal district courts have issued preliminary orders that will prevent the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) from enforcing its regulation requiring workers in most health care settings that receive reimbursements from Medicare or Medicaid to be vaccinated against COVID-19 (coronavirus). CMS issued its rule on November 5, 2021,…
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Dec
02
2021
Are your company vehicles ready for winter?
With winter driving season upon us, now is the time to ensure company vehicles are ready for cold weather. Servicing a company car or truck should include: Checking the battery. Most battery failures happen during the first cold weather snap. Replacing wiper blades. After a long, hot summer, wiper blades will get hard and…
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Nov
18
2021
Q&A: Consider options while awaiting ruling on OSHA COVID-19 ETS
Question: I read your Alert, announcing a hold on federal OSHA’s COVID-19 (coronavirus) emergency temporary standard (ETS) for employers with 100 or more employees until a federal court hearing occurs. Does that mean we can stop preparing for the rule (which requires vaccination or weekly tests), or is there something we…
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Nov
18
2021
FAQs updated for federal contractor vaccine mandate
On November 10, 2021, revised versions of the COVID-19 Workplace Safety Guidance for Federal Contractors and Subcontractors and accompanying contractor FAQs were posted on the Safer Federal Workforce website. The new guidance incorporates the current deadline for covered contractor employees to receive their final dose of the COVID-19 vaccine: January…
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Nov
18
2021
Understaffed and overworked? Apply these safety measures
How do we keep our employees safe when we’re understaffed and overworked, and our employees are feeling the associated mental and physical fatigue? If you’re like most of Vigilant’s members, you’re feeling the pressure of the times—more work than you have the resources to fulfil, making you feel behind and in “catch-up mode” most of the…
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Nov
15
2021
ALERT: OSHA COVID-19 vaccine mandate on hold for now
On November 12, 2021, the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ordered federal OSHA not to implement or enforce its COVID-19 (coronavirus) emergency temporary standard (ETS) until a full judicial hearing can be held. As we previously reported, OSHA published the ETS on November 5, 2021, requiring employers with 100…
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