The U.S. Department of Labor issued guidance to help employers understand the standards most frequently cited during OSHA COVID-19 inspections.
This guidance is based on data coming mostly from citations issued following complaints, referrals and fatalities in healthcare facilities and meat processing plants.
Available resources addressing respiratory protection, recording and reporting, PPE and the General Duty Clause are included in the guidance document, according to a Nov. 7 DOL news release.
An accompanying one-pager provides examples of requirements employers must follow, including:
- providing a medical evaluation before a worker is fit-tested for, or uses, a respirator
- establishing a written respiratory protection program with worksite-specific procedures
- training and retraining workers to safely use respirators and other PPE
- respirator storage procedures, and
- recordkeeping of work-related fatalities, injuries and illnesses.
