City Council passes southeast Queens lawmaker’s
bills to create COVID-19 worker safety guidelines
BY BILL PARRY
A southeast Queens
councilman recently
had two pieces of legislation
passed by the
City Council that both
aim to secure workplace
protections for frontline
workers.
Better guidance regarding
safety could
have saved many frontline
workers who died
since the beginning
of the COVID-19 pandemic,
says Councilman
I. Daneek Miller,
who represents many
of the southeast Queens
neighborhoods where
many essential workers
TIMESLEDGER | QNS.24 COM | FEB. 12-FEB. 18, 2021
reside.
One of the measures
passed establishes a
board to review workplace
health and safety
guidance for the duration
of the pandemic
and ensure that proper
guidance is given to
both municipal and
private employees. The
second bill amends the
Administrative Code of
the City of New York,
creating new guidelines
regarding disseminating
occupational safety
and health information
to city employees during
public health emergencies.
The legislation also
mandates an emergency
bulletin with up-to-date
health and safety guidance
be distributed by
the Citywide Office of
Occupational Safety and
Health, under the purview
of the Department
of Citywide Emergency
Services.
“Unfortunately, it
was a combination of
mismanagement and
unclear guidance that
led to the death of many
of the city’s workforce
during the peak of this
endemic,” Miller said.
“This legislation will
ensure that there are
clear safety guidelines
based on federal guidance,
delivered efficiently
and effectively
to our target audiences.
It is incumbent upon us
to support the dedicated
men and women that
keep this city running
and deliver services so
seamlessly. I thank my
colleagues for passing
these crucial pieces of
legislation.”
Miller chaired a
recent Civil Service
and Labor Committee
oversight hearing on
the state of labor during
COVID-19. Many of
the participants who
testified on behalf of
the city’s public and
private workforce cited
a lack of clear safety
guidelines and procedures
in their places of
work, once again reaffirming
the necessity of
new guidelines.
“Providing proper
guidance to employees
during public health
emergencies like
COVID-19 is critical to
protect the health and
safety of all New Yorkers,”
Councilwoman
Adrienne Adams, a
co-sponsor of the measures,
said. “I applaud
Council Member Miller
for his thoughtful legislation
during these unprecedented
times.”
Brooklyn Councilwoman
Farah Louis
also co-sponsored the
legislation.
“New Yorkers faced
unprecedented challenges
during the COVID-19
pandemic, which were
only exacerbated by limited
access to current,
credible information
and resources,” she said.
“As we continue to earn
more about the virus,
public health guidance
is constantly changing
and many New Yorkers
are being left behind.
During a crisis, every
second counts to implement
protocols that will
keep our city’s workforce
safe.”
Reach reporter
Bill Parry by e-mail at
bparry@schnepsmedia.com
or by phone at (718) 260–4538.
The City Council passed southeast Queens Councilman
I. Daneek Miller’s legislation that would provide better
information to frontline workers during the COVID-19
crisis. Photo by Todd Maisel
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