Emerald City preparing for the post-COVID world
- Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell said the city is preparing for the next chapter in the COVID-19 pandemic and plans to officially end its Civil Emergency Proclamation after Oct. 31.
- This change aligns with Washington state and Gov. Jay Inslee’s decision to end the statewide state of emergency on the same date.
- Starting Nov. 1, some of the temporary systems and waivers that were implemented during the pandemic will be removed and others will be phased out over time.
- City departments are informing stakeholders of upcoming changes, collaborating with labor partners, and working to identify any temporary measures that should be made permanent.
OSHA money available for small businesses
- Michigan small businesses with 250 employees or less can now apply for a MIOSHA matching grant up to $5,000 to make improvements to their workplace health and safety.
- The grants are available through the Workplace Improvement to Safety and Health grant program and allo employers to purchase safety- and health-related equipment.
- The funds will also be used for training that will support safer, healthier work environments and reduce the risk of injury and illness to workers in Michigan.
- Preference will be given to employers in high-hazard industries identified in MIOSHA’s 2019-2023 strategic plan.
Pennsylvania manufacturer has 21 safety violations
- A Pennsylvania-based metal coatings company that enacted a safety and health program to protect workers at its corporate headquarters failed to do the same for employees at a manufacturing facility it opened in Millville, N.J.
- Responding to a complaint, OSHA opened an investigation at Regal Industrial Corp. and identified 21 violations of federal workplace safety standards.
- The company failed to provide training on respirator use and medical evaluations to determine if employees were physically capable of wearing them and develop and implement a written hazard communication program, among other violations.
- OSHA cited Regal Industrial Corp. for five willful, 15 serious, and one other-than-serious violations, and proposed $573,681 in penalties.
Pfizer exec makes startling admission
- An executive at Pfizer admitted the company did not know if the COVID-19 mRNA vaccine would prevent viral transmission before it hit the market last year.
- Janine Small, the president of international development markets for Pfizer, made the admission before the European Parliament’s COVID-19 committee on behalf of Pfizer CEO Dr. Albert Bourla, who had been summoned by the committee.
- “[We] did we know about stopping immunization before it entered the market? No,” Small replied when asked about the vaccine.
- Europe and around the world had policies that required proof of COVID-19 vaccination in order to fully participate in public life.