As California braces for curfew, some lawmakers gather in Maui

Several California lawmakers are in Maui, Hawaii, this week, for an annual legislative convention, despite rising coronavirus cases that led Gov. Gavin Newsom to threaten a statewide curfew on Monday. The governor has also discouraged social gatherings of more than ten people, and urged people to limit the size of family gatherings at Thanksgiving to no more than two separate households. Breitbart

MIOSHA expanding enforcement of remote work requirements

Michigan OSHA recently announced that it plans to expand enforcement of emergency rules on COVID-19 and that increased emphasis would be placed requiring remote-work protocols for employers. Deficiencies in an employer’s Preparedness and Response Plan, or failure to comply with remote work requirements, can result in citations, mandatory abatement, and a fine of up to $7,000 for serious violations, according to the agency. National Law Review

CDC finds cloth face masks provide personal protection

The use of face coverings is just one of many protocols employers can implement in order to stem the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace. Last week, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated its cloth face mask recommendation, now stating that, in addition to helping reduce the transmission of the virus by the wearer, a cloth face mask also can provide a level of personal protection to the wearer. This update may come as a surprise to those in the workplace safety and health community who have been preaching for the better part of a year that cloth face masks do not protect the wearer, write three Littler attorneys. JD Supra

Fed-OSHA has cited two suburban Chicago nursing homes for COVID-19 violations

Two Chicago-area long-term care facilities have been cited and fined by Fed-OSHA for coronavirus-related citations after hundreds of residents and staff contracted COVID-19. One of the facilities reported 188 residents and staff contracted COVID-19, and 41 died, according to state data. Chicago Tribune

Maine man killed after falling from scissor lift

A 58-year-old man was killed at a Wiscasset, Maine jobsite Friday morning when an automatic garage door struck the scissor lift he was working from, causing him to fall 12 feet from the cage area of a scissor lift. Police say he was working from the lift when the door started to open; before his coworkers could stop the door, it hit the cage area of the scissor lift causing it to tip over. WGME

Ohio nursing home faces $13K fine for COVID-19 workplace violations

A Hamilton, New Jersey township nursing home is facing a $13,000 Fed-OSHA fine on allegations it failed to implement workplace COVID-19 safety guidelines requiring it to provide staff with properly fitted N95-style facial masks. The agency cited the nursing home on during the first week of the month, charging it with failing to comply with respiratory protection standards. Trentonian