OSHA Issues Guidance Highlighting Most Frequently Cited Standards During Coronavirus Inspections

Miller & Martin PLLC Alerts | November 18, 2020

With coronavirus cases again on the rise, the United States Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has recently issued a guidance for employers, highlighting which standards have been most frequently cited during coronavirus related inspections. Based upon data obtained from citations issued by OSHA, the guidance confirms that the most frequently cited standards include Respiratory Protection, Recording and Reporting Occupational Injuries and Illnesses, Personal Protective Equipment and the General Duty Clause.

In order to further assist employers in this time of increasing risks, OSHA has prepared a one-page document which provides examples of requirements that employers must follow, 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 in a way to protect them from damage, contamination, and, where applicable, deformation of the facepiece and exhalation valve.
  • Keep required records of work-related fatalities, injuries, and illness.

Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic through Nov. 5, 2020, OSHA has issued citations resulting in proposed penalties totaling $2,856,533 arising from inspections for violations relating to coronavirus.

OSHA's website provides its Common COVID-19 Citations Guidance and a one-page reminder summarizing Lessons Learned from COVID-19 Citations

We Can Help

To discuss the COVID-19 pandemic and your workplace, please contact Larry Cash, Scott Simmons, Neil Wilcove or any other member of Miller & Martin's Workplace Environmental, Health & Safety/OSHA practice group to discuss your specific questions.