A new law, the HERO Act, passed by the New York State Legislature earlier this year requires all employers to adopt an airborne infectious disease prevention plan. The plan must be implemented when an airborne infectious disease is designated by the New York State Commissioner of Health as a “highly contagious communicable disease that presents a serious risk of harm to the public health.”
On Sept. 6th, the Commissioner of Health was directed to declare COVID-19 as a “highly contagious communicable disease that presents a serious risk of harm to the public health.” This means employers are required, by law, to put their airborne infectious disease prevention plans in effect.
The New York State Department of Labor has released a new FAQ on the NY HERO Act, which provides additional information on what’s required of employers. DOL’s website also includes information about the new airborne infectious disease prevention standard, model airborne infectious disease prevention plan, and industry-specific templates for employers to utilize to comply with the new law.
