OSHA, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration recently announced that they have fined over 179 worksites for a sum of nearly $2.5 million due to coronavirus-related violations. Under OSHA rules, it is an employer’s responsibility to keep workers safe and free from hazards on the job. This includes taking the proper steps to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace. Employers must follow existing pandemic-related standards to reduce risk by providing an environment that is “free from recognized hazards that are causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm.”
Some of the violations include:
- Lack of a written respiratory protection program;
- failure to provide a medical evaluation, respirator fit test, training on the proper use of a respirator and personal protective equipment;
- failure to report an injury, illness or fatality;
- improper records for an injury, illness or fatality; and
- violations of the general clause duty.
View the OSHA Fact Sheet for more information on how to protect workers during a pandemic.
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