With NYC entering Phase 2 on Monday, June 22, NYC offices intending on re-opening should ensure that they comply with the safety and health requirements set forth by the State of New York. No NYC office-based work activities can operate without meeting the minimum State standards, as well as any applicable federal requirements, such as those issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the United States Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The State standards apply to all office-based work activities (essential and nonessential) in operation during the COVID-19 public health emergency until rescinded or amended by the State.
Every NYC office-based employer must develop a written Safety Plan outlining how its workplace will prevent the spread of COVID-19. An employer may fill out this template to fulfill the requirement, or it may develop its own Safety Plan. This plan does not need to be submitted to a state agency for approval but it must be retained on the premises of the business and must made available to the New York State Department of Health or local health or safety authorities in the event of an inspection.
NYC office-based employers must also refer to the State’s guidance for office-based work during the COVID-19 public health emergency (last updated June 16, 2020) for more information on how to safely operate. The guidance sets forth the minimum requirements office-based employers are required to take to help protect against the spread of COVID-19, and employers must affirm compliance with the reopening guidance by submitting this form to the State. A summary of the guidance, which outlines mandatory as well as additional recommended guidelines, is also available as a resource for employers.