On January 20, President Joe Biden issued an Executive Order requiring mask wearing in federal buildings and on public lands and requiring all federal employees and contractors to wear masks while on duty.

The Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) inspected and issued citations at several more workplaces for violations of the General Duty Clause and the state’s emergency temporary standard (ETS) for COVID-19 exposures.

On January 8, following an outbreak of violence at the U.S. Capitol, the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) called for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to establish a safety standard for workplace violence prevention.

Drivers with impaired vision in one eye could operate commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) in interstate transportation without first obtaining an exemption from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) under a proposed rule published January 12 (86 FR 2344).

In conducting COVID-19-related inspections, OSHA has frequently cited employers for violating certain standards. In the fourth quarter (Q4), OSHA cited 176 employers for COVID-19-related violations.