COVID-19 OSHA citations are on the rise during the pandemic with new violations being listed every week.
These weekly announcements offer insight into how OSHA is enforcing compliance with coronavirus-related workplace health and safety guidelines.
To date, some of the most common COVID-19 OSHA citations that employers have faced include failures to:
- Evaluate the work environment to determine whether COVID-19 hazards are present or likely to be present.
- Determine what types of PPE—such as a respirator—are required to protect against workplace hazards.
- Provide all necessary PPE to staff, ensuring that the equipment is the correct type and size.
- Train staff on safe usage of PPE and any organizational adjustments that might have rendered previous training outdated.
- Store PPE in a way that protects against potential damages or contamination risks.
- Conduct proper fit-tests for employees that must use tight-fitting respirators.
- Report any employee fatalities that occurred within 30 days of a work-related incident to OSHA, within eight hours of receiving such information.
- Maintain required records of all work-related injuries, illnesses and fatalities.
Employers are responsible for providing a healthy and safe work environment for staff and to have a clear understanding of the COVID-19 OSHA rules and citations that are being handed down. For more information and assistance go to www.osha.gov.
Employee health and safety is one of the important keys to a successful Workers Compensation Insurance Program. For a review of your current program, call our experts at 800-462-6435 or visit us at www.flandersgroup.com.