On Jan. 21, President Biden signed an Executive Order directing the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to develop additional programs to protect American workers from COVID-19. The National Emphasis Program (NEP) increases protections for EMS and other workers against contracting COVID-19 and will enhance COVID-19 related training and enforcement activities.

OSHA will update the Interim Enforcement Response Plan to prioritize on-site workplace inspections. The NEP includes plans to ensure that workers are protected from retaliation. States with an OSHA-approved state plan have 60 days to notify OSHA if they already have the equivalent to an NEP plan or will adopt the federal plan.