New OSHA COVID-19 Guidance for Reopening

On June 15, 2020, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) released a bulletin reminding employers that safety is a priority within both COVID-19 and common workplace hazards. In all phases of reopening, employers must plan for potential hazards related to COVID-19 and from routine workplace processes. Employee stress, fatigue, and distractions may be increased by the pandemic and must be considered when employers develop their employee return-to-work plan. OSHA advises that employers re-evaluate their return-to-work plans, with employee safety and health as a priority, before trying to increase production or tasks in an effort to catch-up on downtime.

As part of their reopening plans, OSHA recommends employers provide workers with safety and health training reviews and address maintenance issues deferred during a shutdown. Employers should also revisit and update standard operating procedures and remember that exposures to hazards may increase during shutdown and start-up periods. It is important for employers to review and address process safety issues – including stagnant or expired chemicals – as part of their reopening effort. Employers must also remember that retaliating against workers for raising concerns about safety and health conditions is prohibited.

OSHA provides COVID-19-related guidance to help employers develop policies and procedures that address the following issues:

• Workplace flexibilities;
• Engineering and administrative controls, safe work practices, and personal protective equipment;
• Training workers on the signs, symptoms and risk factors associated with the coronavirus;
• Basic hygiene and housekeeping practices;
• Social distancing practices;
• Identifying and isolating sick workers;
• Return to work after worker illness or exposure; and
• Anti-retaliation practices.

OSHA’s guidance for employers also includes frequently asked questions related to COVID-19 in the workplace such as worksite testing, temperature checks and health screenings, and the need for personal protective equipment. This guidance accompanies the U.S. Department of Labor and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ previously developed Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19.

Read more about COVID-19 on OSHA’s website.