New York’s Health and Essential Rights (HERO) Act required private employers to adopt workplace exposure prevention plans to curb the workplace spread of COVID-19 and other airborne infectious diseases. The New York State Health Commissioner recently extended the designation of COVID-19 as a serious public health risk, obligating employers to maintain activated plans through mid-January.
Download this FYI as a printable PDF.
Background
Earlier this year, New York enacted the Health and Essential Rights (HERO) Act imposing new workplace health and safety obligations on private employers. Among other things, the HERO Act required New York employers to adopt a prevention plan to curb the workplace spread of COVID-19 and other airborne infectious diseases. However, it did not require plans to be put in effect unless and until an airborne infectious disease was officially designated as a serious public health risk. (See our May 18, 2021 FYI.)
On September 6, the New York State Health Commissioner designated COVID-19 as a serious public health risk in the state, based on the “substantial” or “high” level of transmission identified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Initially slated to remain in effect until September 30, the designation was later continued by the Health Commissioner through October 31 and subsequently to December 15, requiring workplace prevention plans to remain in effect. (See our October 11, 2021 and November 9, 2021 FYIs.)
Designation of COVID-19 as a serious public health risk extended for the third time
On December 15, New York’s Health Commissioner continued the designation of COVID-19 as a “highly contagious communicable disease” until January 15, 2022 based on transmission levels identified by the CDC. This means that New York employers must continue to keep in effect the airborne infectious disease prevention plans that they previously adopted in response to COVID-19. According to the latest designation, the Health Commissioner will review COVID transmission levels in New York State and determine whether to extend this designation on January 15.
In closing
The New York Health Commissioner’s continued designation of COVID-19 as a serious public health risk requires employers to keep their HERO Act workplace exposure prevention plans activated until at least January 15, 2022. Employers should take any necessary steps to ensure compliance.
2021 Reporting and Disclosure (R&D) Guide
Now available to help you meet your employee benefit R&D obligations, download the latest edition of Buck’s Reporting and Disclosure Guide: Retirement and Welfare Benefit Plans.
Volume 44 | Issue 44