Gov. Murphy Signs Order Mandating COVID-19 Protocols For Workers

NEW JERSEY - Gov. Phil Murphy said Wednesday that he's signing an executive order to provide mandatory health and safety standards for all New Jersey workers during the pandemic. He made the statement as New Jersey announced 232,997 total cases of COVID-19 and 14,531 confirmed deaths since March.

Executive Order No. 192 will require both private and public sector employers to follow health and safety protocols to protect in-person workforces. The order mandates that, as of 6 a.m. on Nov. 5, all employers are to require workers to maintain at least six feet of distance from others to the maximum extent possible and require employees and visitors to wear masks when entering the worksite, subject to certain limited exceptions.

“Since the start of the pandemic, New Jersey workers across all sectors have risen to the challenges imposed by COVID-19,” Murphy said. “Yet, the federal government has failed to provide all workers the proper standards and protections that they deserve. Today’s executive order closes that gap to help ensure the health and safety of our workforce during this unprecedented time. I want to thank the many community partners who have been with us throughout this process, and the employers across the state who have been working with us through the pandemic as we pursue economic health through public health.”

The executive order also requires employers to:

• Provide approved sanitization materials to employees and visitors at no cost to workers
• Ensure that employees practice hand hygiene and provide sufficient break time for such purpose
• Routinely clean and disinfect all high-touch areas in accordance with DOH and CDC guidelines
• Conduct daily health checks, such as temperature screenings, visual symptom checking, self-assessment checklists, and/or health questionnaires prior to each shift, consistent with CDC guidance
• Exclude sick employees from the workplace and follow requirements of applicable leave laws
• Promptly notify employees of any known exposure to COVID-19 at the worksite

“With today’s action, New Jersey becomes the only state to leverage its public sector-only jurisdiction to protect workers in the private sector from COVID-19,” said Labor Commissioner Robert Asaro-Angelo. “We now have the essential tools and resources we need to ensure businesses are operating safely, and our economy is moving forward. By protecting New Jerseyans in the workplace, we are lessening the health risks to families and communities. As more people return to work, the high standards we have set today will be critical in maintaining our public health.”

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