Vigilant Blog

OSHA will exercise discretion in enforcement of COVID-19 safety

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has directed its compliance officers to consider the good faith efforts of employers who are unable to fully comply with federal safety requirements to conduct audits, reviews, training, or assessments due to COVID-19 (coronavirus). The agency provides several examples. In situations where you as an employer are unable…

OSHA issues COVID-19 safety alerts for specific industries

OSHA has been issuing safety alerts tailored to specific industries, to help employers protect workers from exposure to COVID-19 (coronavirus). The tips in the alerts aren’t particularly earth-shaking but nonetheless may be useful to review to ensure you’ve at least covered the basics in your safety efforts. So far, the alerts cover workers in manufacturing,…

COVID-19CaliforniaSafety and Health

CALIFORNIA: San Francisco requires face coverings for some workers

The City of San Francisco has issued a public health order requiring individuals to wear face coverings in public, including employees performing work at essential businesses (as defined by the Shelter in Place Order issued on March 16, 2020). Essential businesses must require their employees, contractors, owners, and volunteers to wear face coverings when: (1)…

COVID-19Safety and HealthWashington

WASHINGTON: L&I tackles COVID-19 safety for ag & food workers

Washington’s Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) recently released new requirements and suggestions for agriculture and related industry employers to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus). L&I released a general fact sheet containing requirements and suggestions for all agriculture and related industries and another that’s specific to food processing and warehouse operations. The agency…

Apr 16 2020

COVID-19OregonSafety and Health

OSHA eases COVID-19 recording standards for OSHA 300 log

If workers come down with COVID-19 (coronavirus), most employers don’t have to assess whether their illness was work-related for purposes of OSHA recordkeeping requirements, according to enforcement guidance released by OSHA on April 10, 2020. Employers must record work-related illnesses on the OSHA Form 300 (Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses). OSHA’s guidance acknowledges that…

Apr 16 2020

OREGON: COVID-19 workplace safety spot checks are coming

Oregon OSHA recently announced it will begin spot-checking businesses for compliance with social distancing and other safety measures related to COVID-19 (coronavirus). This is in addition to the more thorough on-site inspections initiated by the agency. The on-site inspections will be driven by complaints from employees, who, as we previously reported, are being encouraged by…

CDC guidance on face coverings raises questions for employers

On April 3, 2020, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), issued guidance advising all individuals to wear face coverings in public settings where social distancing is difficult to maintain, to slow the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus). While the guidance is directed at individuals, it would also apply while employees are working. We’ve…

OSHA temporarily relaxes respirator fit-testing protocols

In response to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has announced that it’s temporarily relaxing the usual requirements for annual fit-testing of respirators in workplaces where respiratory protection is required under existing OSHA regulations. OSHA had already done so for the health care industry on March 14, 2020. On April…

CDC guidance on risk assessment continues to evolve

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued new guidance on when it’s okay for critical infrastructure workers to return to work after potential exposure to someone with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 (coronavirus). “Exposure” means the employee shares a household with an infected person, or was in close contact with them in the…

COVID-19Safety and HealthWashington

WASHINGTON: DOSH implements COVID-19 workplace enforcement

Washington’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) has issued a directive to its safety compliance officers outlining the standards for evaluating workplace safety measures to protect workers from COVID-19 (coronavirus). DOSH compliance officers who inspect the workplace will generally expect you to have the following basic measures in place: Educate workers (and customers, if…

COVID-19CaliforniaLeave Laws

CALIFORNIA: Los Angeles requires paid sick leave and face coverings

Los Angeles mayor Eric Garcetti has signed a paid sick leave ordinance affecting businesses with more than 500 employees and has issued a directive for certain retail businesses to provide cloth face coverings to their workers. Ordinance 186590 requires employers with over 500 employees nationally to provide 80 hours of supplemental paid sick leave in…

Apr 03 2020