Cruise lines dropping COVID-19 vaccination requirements
- Carnival Cruise Line won’t require unvaccinated guests to apply for an exemption to sail after Sept. 6, but the changes are subject to local restrictions.
- Princess Cruises will remove vaccination requirements on Sept. 6 for most voyages that are less than 16 days after requiring unvaccinated guests to have vaccine exemptions.
- Royal Caribbean Group, which includes Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises, will allow travelers regardless of vaccination status beginning Sept. 5.
- The announcements came after Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises said unvaccinated passengers would be allowed on many cruises starting Sept. 3.
Man arraigned on pandemic-related fraud charges
- Ibrahim K. Boyd, 32, of Albany, N.Y. allegedly engaged in fraudulent schemes to obtain government benefits and other funds for small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- The indictment alleges that Boyd submitted a false unemployment insurance application using the personal information of another person to the New York State Department of Labor.
- He reportedly obtained more than $16,000 in benefits for his personal gain.
- Boyd allegedly made up two fake businesses to obtain a Paycheck Protection Program loan and U.S. Small Business Administration disaster-related funding, totaling more than $28,000.
Worker fatigue leads to injuries
- Research estimates that 13% of workplace injuries can be attributed to fatigue, and 43% of American workers admit they may be too tired to function safely at work.
- Employers can reduce the risk of fatigue and assist employees by rotating shift schedules or frequent night shift schedules that face high risks for fatigue.
- Employers should void assigning permanent night-shift schedules if possible, avoid long shift lengths ± no longer than 12 hours — and provide adequate time to recover between shifts.
- Employees should be given more input into their schedules and given frequent breaks within shift obligations.
OSHA to inspect three regional warehousing facilities
- OSHA’s Region 3 Administrator, which covers Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, and Washington D.C., will be part of a Regional Emphasis Program for Warehousing Operation.
- The initiative seeks to reduce injury/illness rates in the warehousing industry by conducting comprehensive inspections to address hazards.
- These risks may include those associated with powered industrial trucks, lockout/tagout, life safety, means of egress, and fire suppression.
- The REP applies to warehouses, storage, and distribution yard operations in Region 3 and will not be applied to marine terminals or shipyards, and is set to expire in five years unless renewed.