OSHA Enforcement: 144 Establishments/$2,025,431 in Coronavirus Penalties Proposed
The United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”) announced in an October 30th news release it has proposed $2,025,431 penalties through October 22nd for alleged violations related to the Coronavirus. The penalties are related to citations for 144 establishments. The alleged…
Arkansas Water Operator Licensing/COVID-19: Arkansas Department of Health Announces Training Hours Waiver
Mr. Jeff Stone, P.E., of the Arkansas Department of Health (“DOH”), announced in an article in the Fall 2020 edition of the publication Arkansas Drinking Water Update that: . . . Due to the effects of the pandemic upon the availability of water operator training, the requirement of obtaining…
FBI Warns of Imminent Cybercrime Threat to U.S. Hospitals and Health Care Providers
October 29, 2020
by Anton L. Janik, Jr.
In a Joint Cybersecurity Advisory issued Wednesday, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Department of Health and Human Services warned of an imminent ransomware threat to U.S. hospitals and healthcare providers. More than 400 hospitals…
CDC's New Definition of "Close Contact" Impacts Contact Tracing in Workplaces
October 22, 2020
by Nathan A. Read
On October 21, 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) expanded the definition of “close contact” for contact tracing purposes. The CDC previously defined close contact as 15 consecutive minutes within six feet of an infected person. The new definition still uses 15 minutes as…
RCRA Guidance/COVID-19: Signing Paper Hazardous Waste Manifests
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) issued an August 20th memorandum titled: Statement About Signing Paper Hazardous Waste Manifest During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (“Statement”) The Statement was transmitted from Peter C. Wright, EPA Assistant Administrator…