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