Biden Issues Workplace Health and Safety Executive Order

Biden Issues Workplace Health and Safety Executive Order

The Jan. 22 executive order instructs OSHA to clarify and update COVID-19 safety recommendations.

President Biden signed an executive order that instructs OSHA to revise its COVID-19 safety recommendations on Jan. 22, according to The Washington Post.

The order, which is called the “Executive Order on Protecting Health and Safety,” requires OSHA to publish the updated recommendations within two weeks. There will need to be a guidance that informs employers on how to maintain safety in the workplace during the pandemic. The order also instructs OSHA to consider whether an emergency temporary standard on coronavirus needs to be passed. If it is determined that this is the case, then such guidance must be issued by March 15.

“Ensuring the health and safety of workers is a national priority and a moral imperative,” Biden said in the order. “Healthcare workers and other essential workers, many of whom are people of color and immigrants, have put their lives on the line during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID- 19) pandemic...The Federal Government must take swift action to reduce the risk that workers may contract COVID-19 in the workplace.”

David Michaels, the former head of OSHA under the Obama administration, told NPR that despite this executive order, “federal OSHA can only go so far.” He cited this as the reason that President Biden asked Congress to pass legislation that “strengthens and expands OSHA’s authority.”

If OSHA issues an emergency temporary standard by the March 15 deadline, it could include a workplace mask-wearing mandate, as well as mandatory social distancing.

Learn more about the Biden administration's plans for improving worker safety by listening to this Safety Speak episode of the OH&S SafetyPod.

About the Author

Nikki Johnson-Bolden is an Associate Content Editor for Occupational Health & Safety.

Product Showcase

  • Kestrel 5400 Heat Stress Tracker WBGT Monitoring for Workplace Safety

    Ensure safety with the Kestrel® 5400 Heat Stress Tracker, the go-to choice for safety professionals and endorsed by the Heat Safety & Performance Coalition. This robust, waterless WBGT meter is ideal for both indoor and outdoor environments, offering advanced monitoring and data logging essential for OSHA compliance. It features pre-programmed ACGIH guidelines and alert settings to quickly signal critical conditions. Integrated with the cloud-based Ambient Weather Network, the 5400 allows managers to view, track, and log job site conditions remotely, ensuring constant awareness of potential hazards. Its capability for real-time mobile alerts and remote data access promotes proactive safety management and workplace protection, solidifying its role as a crucial tool in industrial hygiene. Read More

  • SwabTek® Cannabis Test Kit

    The SwabTek® Cannabis Test Kit is a single-use spot test designed for use in screening for cannabis compounds in any sample type or on any surface. The test is capable of identifying the presumed presence of cannabinoids in very small quantities, with a level of detection as little as 6 μg in mass. Learn more about the SwabTek® Cannabis Test Kit and the rest of SwabTek surface drug testing solutions through the webinar titled "Everything You Want To Know About Surface Testing" Read More

  • SECUPRO MARTEGO

    FOR HIGHEST DEMANDS. A cutting tool in which function and design go hand in hand. Meet the SECUPRO MARTEGO, our prize-winning squeeze-grip safety knife with fully automatic retractable blade for safety. • Ergonomically friendly trigger mechanism to engage the blade • Durable body made of aluminum • Safer alternative to fixed blade utility knives for general cutting tasks • 9 mm Cutting depth • Easy, tool free blade change Dimensions: L 6.10" L x 0.71" W x 1.91" H Weight: 3.70 oz Cutting Depth: 9 mm Read More

Featured

Artificial Intelligence