USA: DOL Requests Feedback on Safely Reopening Workplaces

The US Department of Labor (DOL) is asking for comments on strategies for safely resuming traditional work after the COVID-19 pandemic eventually begins to subside, along with feedback on challenges organisations may face during the process.

The DOL says thousands of workers and employers have been in communication with the department since the start of the crisis, and that this dialogue provides an opportunity for even more voices to contribute to the department’s ongoing response as circumstances on the ground continue to change.

The public – including employers, workers, local authorities and advocacy groups – are invited to share ideas on the following six topics:

• Reopening businesses;
• Commuting safely;
• Working safely;
• Accommodating members of vulnerable populations;
• Supporting America’s families; and
• Reducing regulatory burdens.

Comments can be made through the following online portal. Some responses already submitted concern the need for PPE, no-contact thermometers, repurposed office spaces, plexiglass, and immunity from lawsuits.

Deputy Secretary of Labor Patrick Pizzella said the innovative national online dialogue was all about reopening America while “maximizing worker and customer safety.”

“It’s an important discussion that will help offices across the department effectively plan, focus strategies and develop materials.”