COVID-19 designated airborne infectious disease under New York’s HERO Act

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) — COVID-19 was designated an airborne infectious disease under New York’s HERO Act.

That means all employers have to create workplace safety plans to help protect workers from COVID-19.

This law also protects employees from retaliation when they make a complaint about an employer not complying with the HERO Act.

Employers can make their own safety plan or adopt the plan crafted by the New York State Department of Labor.

The plans must address safety issues including, but not limited to, employee health screenings, masking and social distancing requirements, workplace hygiene stations, workplace cleaning protocol, quarantine protocol, and building airflow technology.

Employers are required to distribute their work safety plan to all employees and post it in a visible and prominent location within each worksite.