OSHA Insights Blog
OSHA Revises Its Mask Guidance
Following the Centers for Disease Control’s updated mask and COVID-19 guidance dated July 27, 2021, OSHA finally updated its own mask and COVID-19 guidance on August 13, 2021. The press release relating to that updated guidance can be viewed here. Under the new...
OSHA’S New COVID Inspection Procedures and National Emphasis Program
OSHA has updated its National Emphasis Program, which targets industries with a high COVID-19 contraction risk, including healthcare; meat and poultry processing; grocery and department stores; postal service; warehousing and storage; restaurants; and correctional...
CDC & OSHA End Mask Mandates for Vaccinated Employees
On May 13, the CDC issued updated guidance providing that those who are fully vaccinated can resume activities -- including going to work (in non-health care settings) -- without wearing a mask or social distancing. On May 17, OSHA adopted the updated CDC guidance as...
Recording Requirements for Employee Adverse Reactions to the COVID-19 Vaccine
Generally, employers have to record their employees’ adverse reactions (i.e., illness or injury) to the COVID-19 vaccine on their 300 logs if the reactions are work-related and meet one or more of the general recording criteria required by OSHA (including days away...
Employers are not required to Notify Employees of a COVID-19 Case in the Workplace
OSHA has recently provided that employers are not required to notify other employees if one of their coworkers contracts COVD-19. However, to guard themselves against potential citations, employers should still take steps to protect their employees from exposure to...
Requiring Employees to come to Work During the Pandemic: Employer Considerations
Workers may have concerns about being required to work during the pandemic. These worries may include issues that arise when other coworkers test positive, personal medical problems, or having a high-risk family member living at the employee's home. Generally,...
Topics to Cover in COVID-19 Training for Workers
OSHA has provided considerations for employers to take into account when conducting COVID-19 training. This training can vary depending on a worker's job tasks, exposure risks, and the type of protocols in place to protect workers. These considerations include the...
OSHA’s New National Emphasis Program for COVID-19
In response to an executive order signed by President Biden in January, OSHA recently launched a new national emphasis program focusing enforcement efforts on industries and employers most impacted by COVID-19. The national emphasis program puts primary emphasis on...
OSHA’s Latest COVID-19 Guidance
In response to an executive order signed by President Biden, OSHA recently issued updated COVID-19 guidance recommending that all employers adopt a formal COVID-19 prevention plan, incorporating the following activities and elements: Conducting a hazard assessment...
When Will OSHA Treat Independent Contractors as Employees?
As OSHA attorneys, we often hear from our clients that OSHA cited them for the acts of their subcontractors or independent contractors. Generally, an employer is not liable for the acts of its subcontractors or independent contractors, but there are exceptions. One...