Lawmakers in New York are now urging Governor Kathy Hochul to enact protections that would put safety measures in place for workers to guard against contracting illnesses like COVID-19.
The HERO Act was approved earlier this year and signed into law by Governor Andrew Cuomo before he resigned. The state has not yet enacted the protections inside the law, which has been a head-scratcher for some in Albany.
“While the outgoing administration has been distracted, New York’s challenges have not gone away. The delay in HERO Act implementation has resulted in preventable danger of coronavirus spread in workplaces,” Senate Deputy Majority Leader Michael Gianaris told Spectrum News. “The new administration needs to act quickly. Too many workers already sacrificed their health for our community’s benefit. The New York HERO Act recognizes their efforts by giving workers the tools to protect themselves while on the job.”
The law requires the state to put health and safety standards in place- including regulations for testing, personal protective equipment, social distancing, hygiene, and engineering controls in workplaces.
“The soon to be former Governor’s administration has largely failed to implement laws passed by the legislature for months now,” said Assemblywoman Karines Reyes. “Incoming Governor Hochul must immediately take action and ensure that the NY HERO Act is enforced by the Department of Health. With the Delta variant on the rise in our state, we must have protection plans for employees in place as soon as possible.”
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