The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued revised COVID-19 worker safety guidance, which is available for reading and download HERE.  This guidance is designed to help employers identify exposure and contraction risks for COVID-19 in the workplace, and to help you determine the appropriate control measures to implement. The revised OSHA guidance details key measures for limiting coronavirus spread, including providing information on the use of personal protective equipment, improving ventilation, good hygiene and routine cleaning.

Covid-19 does not have a specific regulation under OSHA; the new guidance does give descriptions of mandatory safety and health standards that do apply to keep employees safe, i.e. PPE, 300 logs, reporting requirements, respiratory protection, sanitation, and bloodborne pathogens.  OSHA also has the General Duty Clause requiring employers to provide a safe and healthful workplace.  Most of you have already implemented many of these recommendations and have the mandatory programs in place. What is new in this guidance is the recommendation to conduct hazard assessments as it relates to Covid-19.

As a final reminder, the recommendations found in the guidance are noted by OSHA to be advisory in nature.