Special Edition Merit Messenger

03/10/20

COVID-19

What You Need to Know

With the number of coronavirus cases on the rise across New York State and the rest of the country, Associated Builders and Contractors, Empire State Chapter is dedicating this Merit Messenger to keeping you informed on the latest information available on COVID-19 (coronavirus).

Information continues to be issued at a rapid pace. In order to stay up to date and access accurate information, employers are encouraged to utilize the below links.

Recording workplace exposures to Coronavirus

COVID-19 is a recordable illness

OSHA recordkeeping requirements at 29 CFR Part 1904 mandate covered employers record certain work-related injuries and illnesses on their OSHA 300 log.

While 29 CFR 1904.5(b)(2)(viii) exempts recording of the common cold and flu, COVID-19 is a recordable illness when a worker is infected on the job.

Visit OSHA’s Injury and Illness Record Keeping and Reporting Requirements page for more information.

For guidance on preventing exposures and infection, visit the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s website for:

There are twenty-eight OSHA-approved State Plans , operating state-wide occupational safety and health programs. State Plans are required to have standards and enforcement programs that are at least as effective as OSHA's and may have different or more stringent requirements. To view New York's OSHA-approved Plan, click here .

COVID-19 Information from the

Centers for Disease Control

Visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website for more information on the coronavirus, including the resources below:

There is currently no vaccine to prevent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus. However, as a reminder, CDC always recommends everyday preventive actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory diseases, including:

Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
Stay home when you are sick.
Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipes.

Visit ABC general counsel Littler Mendelson’s coronavirus webpage , which includes the resources below:

Coronavirus: Employer Action Items
HR Works: Coronavirus Compliance and Safety Concerns in the Workplace (podcast)
The Coronavirus: How Employers Can Manage the Outbreak (previously recorded webinar)

Visit the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s website for additional employer resources:

What You Should Know About the ADA, the Rehabilitation Act and the Coronavirus

The Latest News from the New York State Government

Monday morning, Governor Cuomo held a press briefing regarding the spread of coronavirus in New York.

Among the highlights were:

Schools will have to close for a 24-hour evaluation if at least one student tests positive for coronavirus.
The state will submit legislation that would expand paid sick leave to include benefits for those infected by the virus.
In response to price gouging and depleting public stocks of medical supplies, the state has started making its own alcohol-based hand sanitizer manufactured by inmates through Corcraft, an entity within the NYS Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, to battle the coronavrus. At least 100,000 gallons of the 75% alcohol product is being manufactured per week and will be provided to government agencies, the MTA, schools, and prisons. However, it is not available for purchase nor being distributed to the public.
There are no plans to close the Legislature in response to the outbreak.
Governor Cuomo has requested additional testing authorization from Vice President Pence.