Employers should expect increase in COVID-19-related inspections

On March 12, Fed-OSHA issued a National Emphasis Program related to COVID-19. Its purpose is to ensure “employees in high-hazard industries are protected from the hazard of contracting SARS-CoV-2”; the NEP directs Fed-OSHA to target worksites that have employees with increased potential exposure to this hazard. In addition, the NEP directs Fed-OSHA to ensure employees are protected from retaliation for raising safety and health concerns related to COVID-19, write two Greenberg Traurig attorneys. National Law Review

Re-opening offices may be legally tricky

The question of when to reopen businesses fully and welcome back remote workers is a “hot topic” that touches on employment, privacy and even landlord-tenant law, says Armstrong Teasdale’s Travis Kearbey. St. Louis Business Journal [may require registration]

Florida rescuers worked for hours to free trapped man

The City of Naples Fire-Rescue and North Collier Fire-Rescue worked for seven hours to free a mechanic’s arm after he became trapped as he worked on a heavy-duty forklift while elevated 30 feet in the air. Fox 4

Asphyxiation leads to employer guilty plea

The death of an employee who was asphyxiated while cleaning oil sludge from inside a railroad tanker car has led to his employer pleading guilty to a federal criminal charge. Bloomberg Law [may require registration]