Category: COVID-19

The COVID-19 outbreak is at top of mind for environment, health, and safety (EHS) professionals nationwide.

N95 respirator masks

OSHA: Surgical Masks Not a Substitute for Respirators for Non-COVID-19 Respiratory Hazards

Exceptions from respiratory protection regulations allowing the use of surgical masks only apply to healthcare facilities and emergency medical services, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) reminded employers. Other employers must provide respirators, the agency explained in guidance discussing the differences among cloth face coverings, surgical masks, and respirators.

California and COVID-19

California Safety and Public Health Agencies Issue Hotel Reopening Guidelines

As California hotels begin to reopen with the lifting of stay at home orders, the state Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) and California Department of Public Health have issued guidelines for the hotels and lodging industry. Cal/OSHA and CDPH released the guidelines and a checklist to help employers in the industry keep employees […]

Substance abuse, mental health, safety

NSC Urges Employers to Brace for Employee Substance Misuse Amid Pandemic’s Impact on Mental Health

According to the American Medical Association, at least 30 states are reporting spikes in fatal opioid overdoses and ongoing concern about mental illness or substance use disorders, all in connection with COVID-19. To help employers address these interconnected issues, the National Safety Council (NSC) is calling on employers to prioritize employee stress and emotional and mental […]

Truck on the road

FMCSA Extends and Modifies COVID-19 Emergency Declaration

The Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) extended but narrowed trucking regulation exemptions under its coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) emergency declaration. Deputy Administrator Jim Murren extended the exemptions for 50 states and the District of Columbia to July 14.

Reopening

National Safety Council Urges Caution in Reopening Business

Employers should reopen only when they can do so safely, the National Safety Council (NSC) said in response to guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for office workers returning to work during the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Facemask at work

CDC Releases COVID-19 Recommendations for Office Buildings

Updated recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for reopening offices during the COVID-19 pandemic include wearing cloth masks throughout the workday; maintaining social distances of six feet, including in elevators; positioning workstations six feet apart or installing plastic partitions; and removing communal coffeepots.

Cloud-based safety management technology

Read the Transcript of Our Podcast with Shawn M. Galloway, President of ProAct Safety

In our most recent episode of EHS on Tap, host Justin Scace spoke with Shawn M. Galloway, the President of ProAct Safety. In this timely conversation, they touched on the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on change management and safety culture, and address some steps environment, health, and safety (EHS) professionals can take as businesses […]

EHS on Tap: E56 Adapting to Change and Refocusing on Safety Amid COVID-19

COVID-19 is not merely a temporary interruption to our everyday lives, it has ushered in a new reality within the working world. For environment, health, and safety professionals, the time to plan for operations within the context of this new reality is right now. So what do you need to be thinking about in order […]