The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has issued stronger worker safety guidance to help employers and workers implement a COVID-19 protection program and better identify risks that could lead to exposure and contraction, according to www.osha.gov. On Jan. 21, President Biden directed OSHA to release clear guidance for employers to help keep workers safe from COVID-19 exposure.
Protecting Workers: Guidance on Mitigating and Preventing the Spread of COVID-19 in the Workplace provides updated guidance and recommendations and outlines existing safety and health standards.
Implementing a COVID-19 protection program is the most effective way to reduce the spread of the virus. The OSHA guidance recommends several essential elements in a prevention program, including conducting a hazard assessment; identifying control measures to limit the spread of the virus; adopting policies for employee absences that do not punish workers to encourage potentially infected workers to stay home; ensuring COVID-19 policies and procedures are communicated to English and non-English speaking workers; and implementing protections from retaliation for workers who raise COVID-19-related concerns.
The guidance details key measures for limiting COVID-19’s spread, including ensuring infected or potentially infected people are not in the workplace; implementing and following physical distancing protocols; and using surgical masks or cloth face coverings. It also provides guidance regarding use of personal protective equipment, improving ventilation, good hygiene and routine cleaning.
