No images? Click here OSHA Issues Emergency Temporary Standard, But Only For Healthcare WorkersOn Thursday, June 10, 2021, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued the long-awaited emergency temporary standard (ETS). However, to align with new CDC guidelines and following several meetings with industry representatives like those of us in the food supply chain, OSHA has tailored this ETS to protecting healthcare and healthcare support service workers from occupational exposure to COVID-19 in settings where people with COVID-19 are reasonably expected to be present. Alongside this ETS, OSHA issued new general industry guidance for those that do not fall into the healthcare sector. Read the ETS HERE. Following ETS OSHA Issues NEW Guidance on Mitigating and Preventing the Spread of COVID-19 in the WorkplaceThis guidance is intended to help employers and workers not covered by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA's) COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) to identify COVID-19 exposure risks to workers who are unvaccinated or otherwise at-risk, and to help them take appropriate steps to prevent exposure and infection. To align with new CDC guidelines, this OSHA guidance focuses only on protecting unvaccinated or otherwise at-risk workers in their workplaces (or well-defined portions of workplaces) since under most circumstances, fully vaccinated people do not need to take all the precautions that unvaccinated people should take. Read the new guidance HERE. GCCA Is Back On Capitol Hill Fighting For The Cold Chain!On Wednesday, June 9, 2021, Jordan Bonfitto, Director of Government Affairs met with staff from Representative Clay Higgins’ office to discuss a number of issues impacting your business. We are excited to be back hosting in-person meetings with Congressional leaders and their staff to grow our GCCA presence on Capitol Hill. FSIS Administrator Paul Kiecker to Speak at GCCA Policy ForumThe Global Cold Chain Alliance is excited to announce that U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service Administrator Paul Kiecker will present at our in-person Policy Forum on July 27, 2021 at the Fairmont Georgetown in Washington, DC. Secure your spot now to hear Administrator Kiecker’s insightful updates live from our nation’s Capital. The Policy Forum is GCCA’s premier policy event and fly-in for businesses engaged in temperature-controlled logistics. It features education sessions and keynote presentations focused on regulations and legislation that directly impact the industry, meetings with key federal agency officials, Congressional meetings, and more. Hotel reservations are available at the Fairmont Georgetown, right in the heart of Washington, D.C. Discounted rates of $249 for a single/double occupancy exclusive of applicable state and local taxes. Deadline to make reservations is Monday, July 5, 2021. Book your room here. Register for the event HERE. USDA to Invest More Than $4 Billion to Strengthen Food SystemOn Tuesday, June 8, 2021, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced its plans to invest more than $4 billion to strengthen critical supply chains through the Build Back Better initiative. GCCA has been working with USDA and the White House to communicate the critical role of the cold chain to the food supply and how the pandemic has impacted our industry. GCCA has been working with USDA and the White House to highlight the impacts of the pandemic on the cold chain and the importance of utilizing COVID relief programs to assist the industry. GCCA is pleased that USDA has responded to our requests and highlighted food distribution and aggregation as a focal point for investment. Read more HERE. USDA Announces Up to $100 Million In Infrastructure Grants to Build Capacity for Food Banks and Expand Reach into Underserved Areas On Friday, June 4, 2021, USDA announced it will administer a new grant program aimed at helping food assistance organizations meet The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) requirements, strengthen infrastructure, and expand their reach into rural, remote, and low-income communities. This grant program incorporates lessons learned from the Farmers to Families Food Box program. It can help states, local organizations and former food box groups participate in the state’s emergency food network and help pantries build capacity for storage and refrigeration. These grants will help support organizations serving underserved communities and communities of color. GCCA will keep you updated as more details emerge on this new program. Read more HERE.
Call to Action: Nominate a Cold Chain Champion Do you have a colleague who you believe performs exceptional work and deserves special recognition? We are highlighting our members and their achievements on social media. Nominate yourself, your company, or your colleague for a chance to be spotlighted as a #ColdChainChampion! Submit nominations, a short explanation, and a photo to Rachael Oury at roury@gcca.org. |