You are reading

Bill That Aims to Ensure COVID-19 Safety in The Workplace Passes

(Photo: Unsplash Kayla Speid)

April 22, 2021 By Ryan Songalia

A new bill that aims to protect workers from contracting airborne illnesses in the workplace—such as COVID-19—passed both the New York State Senate and Assembly this week.

Businesses, under the legislation called NY Hero Act, will be required to meet minimum safety standards to reduce the risk to workers following the outbreak of such diseases. If they fail to comply, they will be hit with fines.

The Departments of Labor and Health will be tasked with establishing the standards for businesses to follow, such as determining how much personal protective equipment for employees is needed and social distancing requirements and more.

Queens-based senator Michael Gianaris was the primary sponsor in the Senate, while Karines Reyes, of the Bronx, was the primary sponsor in the Assembly. The bill is awaiting Gov. Andrew Cuomo to sign it into law.

“Too many workers have already sacrificed their health for our community’s benefit,” Gianaris, the Senate Deputy Leader. “The New York HERO Act honors their efforts by giving workers the tools to protect themselves while on the job.

State Senator Jessica Ramos, who chairs the Senate Labor Committee, was one of three Queens-based senators, alongside James Sanders Sr., who co-sponsored the bill.

“Throughout this pandemic, workers across our state have had to put their lives and the lives of their families at risk to keep New York running,” said Ramos. “It’s our turn to take care of them.”

The Queens-based legislators who co-sponsored the bill in the Assembly are Stacey Pheffer Amato, Nily Rozic, Zohran Mamdani, Brian Barnwell, Andrew Hevesi, Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas, Catalina Cruz, Catherine Nolan, Jenifer Rajkumar and Daniel Rosenthal.

Among the labor unions, community and safety organizations supporting the bill are AFL-CIO, CWA District 1, New York State Nurses Association and the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union.

email the author: news@queenspost.com
No comments yet

Leave a Comment
Reply to this Comment

All comments are subject to moderation before being posted.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Recent News

Masked man sought for eight commercial burglaries during an 11-day stretch in August: NYPD

The NYPD is still looking for a masked-up burglar who allegedly broke into eight commercial businesses and stole more than $14,000 in cash during an 11-day stretch in August primarily in Bayside and Flushing.

The suspect started his one-man crime spree in Little Neck in the confines of the 111th Precinct in Bayside when entered a business located at 254-11 Northern Blvd. through a rear window just before 5 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 6. Once inside, the burglar allegedly removed approximately $100 in cash from a drawer before running off.

Flushing man busted for pushing an 82-year-old woman off the platform at the Main Street 7 train station in Wednesday: NYPD

A Flushing man was arrested Monday and charged with attempted murder for allegedly shoving an 82-year-old woman onto the tracks at the Main Street 7 train station during a random attack on Wednesday, Oct. 2.

Brandon Harris, 35, who lives directly across the street from the bustling subway station, was booked at the Transit District 20 headquarters at the Briarwood subway station in Jamaica on Monday.