As summer approaches, now is the time to review your safety plans for protecting workers from heat illness hazards. California and Washington have state-specific heat stress regulations and directives that you must follow, while Arizona, Idaho, and Montana follow federal law. Meanwhile, Oregon is in the process of developing permanent…
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Question: My employee says they tested positive for COVID-19 (coronavirus). There have been so many changes to the requirements that I’m not sure what I should do anymore. Please help! Answer: Start with current federal guidance and then check your state and local requirements. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) web page on…
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As some jurisdictions roll out mandatory vaccination against COVID-19 (coronavirus) for some workers, it’s important to keep an eye on requirements in your local area. Here’s a summary of where things stand as of today: Federal requirements: On July 29, 2021, President Biden announced that federal agencies must require federal contractors who work on site at…
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Understand how CDC’s relaxed mask guidance applies in your state On May 13, 2021, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) announced that people who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (coronavirus) generally don’t need to wear masks or physically distance with a few exceptions, setting off a flurry of compliance questions for employers. Depending…
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Four years with no OSHA recordable injuries. Five years with no OSHA recordable injuries. These are statements you don’t read often for fast-paced manufacturing production facilities in the Pacific Northwest. Why is this a rare thing and how did two Vigilant member companies do it? Alta Forest Products’ facilities in Morton, Washington, and Naples,…
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Arizona, California, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana have followed in Washington’s footsteps and adopted the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s new shorter quarantine options either in whole or in part. As we previously reported, the CDC maintains that its prior recommendation of a 14-day quarantine for exposed individuals is still the safest…
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Understand face covering requirements in your area Vigilant members have been asking how recent face covering mandates to reduce the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus) apply to their businesses, so below is a summary of the general requirements in our member states. California, Oregon, and Washington have statewide face covering mandates.…
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Idaho Governor Brad Little has announced a plan to pay between $750.00 and $1,500.00 to Idaho workers who return to work after receiving unemployment benefits. Some workers are making more money from enhanced unemployment benefits (which continue through July 31, 2020), than they did when they were working, so employers…
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The U.S. Supreme Court recently ruled that terminating employees because of their sexual orientation or transgender status is discrimination based on sex and therefore violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.
Read More…Effective May 26, 2020, the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is requiring employers in covered industries to record work-related incidences of COVID-19 (coronavirus) on Form 300 (Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses). As an employer, you must record work-related illnesses on Form 300 unless you’re in an exempt industry or…
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