OKLAHOMA CITY – All employers should follow federal guidelines and recommendations connected to protecting their workers from the COVID-19 virus or possibly face large- scale fines, an Oklahoma City attorney said.
Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic through Nov. 19, 2020, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued citations arising from 244 inspections for violations relating to coronavirus, resulting in proposed penalties totaling $3.3 million.
Most of the violations have occurred in the healthcare and manufacturing sectors where employees work closely with each other.
Mary Snyder, an attorney with the Crowe & Dunlevy law firm, said high-risk settings like hospitals, nursing homes, meatpacking plants and other manufacturing firms draw a lot of attention from OSHA.
“Employers should familiarize themselves with the protocols in general and with any specific protocols in their industry,” said Snyder. “In most of the cases where companies were cited and fined, they failed to properly train employees in mitigating risks.”
Generally, OSHA investigations start because of employee complaints or employee deaths connected to the COVID virus.
Typically, office settings are considered low-risk, but an out-break among employees could spark an OSHA investigation, she said. In addition, if employers are not taking any precautions to prevent the spread, the company could be targeted by federal authorities.
“It’s important to keep employees out of the workplace if they’ve been sick or a family member has been sick,” Snyder added. “Employers need to be sure and follow their own company policy and industry-specific protocols.”
The typical COVID-19 precautions still include regular handwashing, face mask usage, social distancing (at least six feet) and barriers when applicable, such as in convenience stores and office reception areas.
OSHA inspections have resulted in the agency citing employers for violations, including failures to implement a written respiratory protection program; provide a medical evaluation, respirator fit test, training on the proper use of a respirator and personal protective equipment; report an injury, illness or fatality; record an injury or illness on OSHA recordkeeping; and comply with the General Duty Clause of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970.
Specific protocols were given to various industries, including airline operations, construction, dentistry, correctional facilities, border protection and transportation security, emergency response and public safety, food related businesses, healthcare, manufacturing, oil and gas operations, retail, solid waste and wastewater management, laboratories, in-home repair services, postmortem care, workers in shared housing and travel to areas where the virus is spreading.
For more information about OSHA requirements and protocols, visit www.osha.gov/SLTC/ covid-19/controlprevention. html#interim. —Tim Farley,
Southwest Ledger