Albuquerque officials vote to prohibit employee vaccine mandates

Despite criticism it was an unnecessary step or even a potentially problematic limitation, the Albuquerque City Council has passed legislation that bars the city from mandating that employees receive a COVID-19 vaccination and from penalizing those who do not. The bill’s sponsor says that despite what state or federal agencies ultimately may require, the legislation demonstrates the local government itself would not impose a vaccine standard. Albuquerque Journal

 

Employee killed by falling pipes at South Carolina plant

South Carolina OSHA is investigating after a man died while working at an industrial plant in Chester County on Saturday after he was struck by falling pipes. The 55-year-old was an employee of a construction subcontractor. Herald Online

 

Tampa Bay law enforcement agencies weigh how to classify coronavirus deaths

COVID-19 accounted for more than 75 percent of 2021 Florida police officer deaths, but despite the virus’ status as the leading cause of death for law enforcement officers over the past two years, Florida agencies do not have a uniform approach to how these fatalities are classified and whether officers’ surviving relatives will receive line-of-duty death benefits. Tampa Bay Times [may require registration]

 

Fed-OSHA says employees of hot tub maker were exposed to dangerous chemicals

A Northumberland County, Pennsylvania hot tub manufacturer has been cited after Fed-OSHA inspectors reportedly found employees working in spray booths were exposed to twice the legal limit of methylene diphenyl diisocyanate, a chemical used to make polyurethane foam. The agency has issued more than $91,000 in penalties. NorthcentralPA.com

 

Attorney discusses how employers can avoid and handle Fed-OSHA citations

Josh Dennis, an attorney with Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt, discusses the unpreventable employee misconduct defense, an extremely useful tool if an employee goes rogue and is caught by an inspector. New Orleans City Business

 

Oregon OSHA announces ‘safety break’ on May 11

For the nineteenth year, Oregon OSHA is encouraging employers and employees across the state to pause and take part in Safety Break for Oregon and to share their Safety Break activities on social media. KTVZ