OSHA issues guidance on frequently cited standards related to COVID-19 inspections

Posted November 11, 2020

OSHA has issued guidance and a bulletin to help employers understand which standards are most frequently cited during COVID-19-related inspections. To date, the Agency has issued nearly $2.5 million in citations.

The documents address the most frequently cited standards, including respiratory protection, recording and reporting occupational injuries and illnesses, personal protective equipment (PPE), and the General Duty Clause.

The bulletin provides examples of employer requirements, including:

• Provide a medical evaluation before a worker is fit-tested or uses a respirator.
• Establish, implement, and update a written respiratory protection program with required worksite-specific procedures.
• Train workers to safely use respirators and/or other PPE in the workplace, and retrain workers about changes in the workplace that might make previous training obsolete.
• Store respirators and other PPE properly to protect it from damage, contamination, and, where applicable, deformation of the facepiece and exhalation valve.
• Keep required records of work-related fatalities, injuries, and illness.

OSHA says the guidance is intended to help employers protect workers and to increase compliance with OSHA’s requirements.

This article was written by Rachel Krubsack of J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc.