MIOSHA will extend COVID restrictions in offices for six months

Governor Gretchen Whitmer said Michigan OSHA will extend COVID restrictions on offices for another six months. The latest restrictions were set to expire on Wednesday. The current restrictions require remote work when it is feasible. WILX (Lansing, Mich.)

 

OR-OSHA fines diner fined more than $35K for willful violations

Oregon OSHA has fined two related restaurants, one in Bend and one in Redmond, more than $35,000 for allegedly willfully allowing indoor dining between January and February, in violation of standards designed to protect employees from COVID-19. KATU (Portland)

 

Iowa DoC pushed bill to remove safety protections from employees

After being warned about potential dangers in its facilities, the Iowa Department of Corrections proposed a bill this legislative session to increase the threshold for an IOSH inspection to occur when an attack happened inside a prison. In an inspection triggered by an attack by inmates on staff inside a state penitentiary, Iowa OSHA charged that the prison did not have a reliable way to contact other employees for help during an emergency. About eight months later, two inmates killed two staff members. KCRG

 

Massachusetts tax service fined for prohibiting employees and clients from wearing masks

The owner of a Lynn, Massachusetts tax-preparation service faces more than $136,000 in penalties from the U.S. Department of Labor for allegedly prohibiting her employees and customers from wearing masks and social distancing. Fed-OSHA opened its March 17 inspection after a referral from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development’s Division of Labor Standards. Boston Herald

 

Fed-OSHA investigating contract employee’s death Pennsylvania township

Police and Fed-OSHA officials are investigating after a 46-year-old man contract employee of an oil and gas services company was fatally injured while working on a gas rig Tuesday morning. PA Homepage

 

Going back to the office? How Texas employers are handling vaccine situation

Many employers are hoping to get their employees inoculated. In turn, they face an array of legal considerations. Where will employers go from here? Tyler Morning Telegraph