Workplace Safety

OSHA Factors-in “Good Faith Efforts” by Employers to Comply with Worker Safety Regulations during Pandemic

April 24, 2020 Michael Gerhardt OSHA Rulings, Workplace Safety No Comments

April 16, 2020 — In light of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, OSHA understands that some employers may face difficulties complying with OSHA standards due to the ongoing health emergency. Widespread business closures, restrictions on travel, limitations on group sizes, facility visitor prohibitions, and stay-at-home or shelter-in-place requirements may limit the availability of employees, […]

OSHA Not Enforcing COVID-19 Recordkeeping for Certain Employers

April 17, 2020 Michael Gerhardt OSHA Rulings, Workplace Safety No Comments

On April 10, OSHA issued interim guidance to Compliance Safety and Health Officers (CSHOs) for enforcing the requirements of 29 CFR Part 1904 with respect to the recording of occupational illnesses, specifically cases of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). This guidance will take effect immediately and remain in effect until further notice. This guidance is intended […]

OSHA Expands Temporary Enforcement Guidance on N95 Fit-Testing to All Workplaces

April 10, 2020 Michael Gerhardt OSHA Rulings, Workplace Safety No Comments

On April 8 OSHA expanded temporary enforcement guidance provided in OSHA’s March 14, 2020, memorandum to Compliance Safety and Health Officers for enforcing annual fit-testing requirements of the Respiratory Protection standard, 29 CFR § 1910.134(f)(2), with regard to supply shortages of N95s or other filtering facepiece respirators (FFRs) due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) […]

OSHA Issues New Guidance for Respiratory Protection Amidst the N95 Shortage

April 10, 2020 Michael Gerhardt OSHA Rulings, Workplace Safety No Comments

On April 3 OSHA issued interim guidance to Compliance Safety and Health Officers (CSHOs) for enforcing the Respiratory Protection standard, 29 CFR § 1910.134, and certain other health standards, with regard to supply shortages of disposable N95 filtering facepiece respirators. Specifically, it outlines enforcement discretion to permit the extended use and reuse of respirators, as […]

OSHA Issues Immediate Guidance Allowing Employers to Use Respirators from Other Countries

April 5, 2020 Michael Gerhardt OSHA Rulings, Workplace Safety No Comments

In the latest effort to implement President Trump’s Memorandum on Making General Use Respirators Available, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued interim enforcement guidance regarding disposable N95 filtering facepiece respirators (N95 FFRs) that are either certified under certain standards of other countries or jurisdictions or certified under other […]