Governor Murphy's Executive Order to Protect NJ's Workforce During the COVID-19 Pandemic - 11/4/2020

The Edison Chamber of Commerce will be holding a Zoom call where Jay Elliot, Director, Edison Department of Health & Human Services will go over the changes that Governor Phil Murphy's Executive Order No. 192 will require of all employers. To learn more and understand the changes and requirements, please join us.
 
Governor Phil Murphy signed Executive Order No. 192, to provide mandatory health and safety standards to protect all New Jersey's workers at work during the pandemic. The Order goes into effect as of 6:00 a.m. on November 5, 2020.
 
The executive order lays out the enforceable standards to ensure the safety of our workers, employers, and customers.
 
The executive order will take the following actions:
 
Workplace health and safety standards to cover all NJ workers:
The executive order will require both private and public sector employers to follow health and safety protocols that will serve to protect their in-person workforces.  All employers, at minimum, require individuals at the worksite to maintain at least six feet of distance from others to the maximum extent possible and require employees and visitors to wear masks when entering the worksite, subject to certain limited exceptions.
 
Other protocols require employers to:
Provide approved sanitization materials to employees and visitors at no cost to those individuals;
Ensure that employees practice hand hygiene and provide sufficient break time for that purpose;
 
Routinely clean and disinfect all high-touch areas in accordance with DOH and CDC guidelines;
 
Conduct daily health checks, such as temperature screenings, visual symptom checking, self-assessment checklists, and/or health questionnaires, prior to each shift, consistent with CDC guidance;
 
Exclude sick employees from the workplace and follow requirements of applicable leave laws; and
Promptly notify employees of any known exposure to COVID-19 at the worksite.
 
Collaborative enforcement mechanism to address complaints:
The Department of Labor and Workforce Development (NJDOL) will support the Department of Health?s efforts to address worker complaints from their employers. NJDOL?s roles will include establishing an intake form on the NJDOL website to receive complaints and developing an investigation and inspection protocol to review complaints.
 
Training program to inform workers of their rights and to encourage employer compliance.
 
The executive order also directs NJDOL to provide compliance and safety training for employers and employees. The department will provide materials to inform workers of their rights and businesses of their obligations as well as coordinate with workforce training partners to create and provide training.
 
Copy of Executive Order No. 192: https://d31hzlhk6di2h5.cloudfront.net/20201028/19/3c/51/92/2a5c234763a1097c754c7997/EO-192.pdf