The New York Health and Essential Rights Act (NY HERO Act) – signed into law by former Governor Andrew Cuomo on May 5th, 2021 – introduces new workplace health and safety measures to protect employees during airborne infectious disease outbreaks, including but not limited to the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent variants.
Under the NY HERO Act, various model plans for the prevention of airborne infectious disease have been developed by the New York State (NYS) Department of Labor (NYS DOL), in consultation with the NYS Department of Health.
These include an Airborne Infectious Disease Exposure Prevention Standard, a Model Airborne Infectious Disease Exposure Prevention Plan, and various industry-specific plans for the prevention of airborne infectious disease, including plans for Private Education.
re-open.com can not only help you understand the requirements of the NY HERO Act as they relate to you but can also provide products and services to help you comply.
Do I have to adopt a NY HERO Act plan?
All New York State private employers must adopt a plan for every airborne infectious disease designated by the New York State Department of Health, of which COVID-19 is one.
When do NY HERO Act plans go into effect?
While airborne infectious disease exposure prevention plans have to be adopted by employers under the NY HERO Act, they do not necessarily have to be in effect until an airborne infectious disease outbreak is designated by the New York State Commissioner of Health.
These plans must go into effect once an airborne infectious disease is designated – by the New York State Commissioner of Health – as a highly contagious communicable disease that presents a serious risk of harm to public health.