ESR News Blog
Written By ESR News Blog Editor Thomas Ahearn
On May 28, 2020, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) – an agency of the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) dedicated to keeping the American workforce safe and healthy – testified before the House Education and Labor Committee’s Workforce Protections Subcommittee about the agency’s role during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, according to a news release from OSHA.
“Throughout the ongoing pandemic, OSHA’s work is continuing uninterrupted,” Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Occupational Safety and Health Loren Sweatt wrote in her testimony. “From conducting thousands of investigations to issuing critical guidance aimed at protecting workers in high-risk industries, OSHA is on the job protecting America’s workers against the coronavirus.”
The testimony from OSHA highlighted the agency’s continued work to keep American workers safe during these unprecedented times. OSHA has released many public statements related to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that include Offering Clear Direction for Employers, Enforcing Safety in the Workplace, Protecting Workers in High-Risk Industries, and Respirator Guidance:
Offering Clear Direction for Employers:
- U.S. Department of Labor Issues Enforcement Guidance For Recording Cases of COVID-19
- U.S. Department of Labor Considers Employer’s Good Faith Efforts When Enforcing Compliance During COVID-19 Pandemic
Enforcing Safety in the Workplace:
- U.S. Department of Labor Adopts Revised Enforcement Policies For Coronavirus
- U.S. Department of Labor Announces OSHA Interim Enforcement Response Plan to Protect Workers During The Coronavirus Pandemic
- U.S. Department of Labor Reminds Employers That They Cannot Retaliate Against Workers Reporting Unsafe Conditions During Coronavirus Pandemic
- OSHA and CDC Issue Interim Guidance to Protect Workers in Meatpacking and Processing Industries
- Statement of Enforcement Policy by Solicitor of Labor Kate O’Scannlain and Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for OSHA Loren Sweatt regarding Meat and Poultry Processing Facilities
Protecting Workers in High-Risk Industries:
- U.S. Department of Labor Issues Alert to Keep Nursing Home and Long-Term Care Facility Workers Safe During Coronavirus Pandemic
- U.S. Department of Labor Issues Alert to Help Keep Retail Pharmacy Workers Safe During the Coronavirus Pandemic
- U.S. Department of Labor Issues Alert for Rideshare, Taxi And Car Service Safety During Coronavirus Pandemic
- U.S. Department of Labor Publishes New OSHA Poster Aimed At Reducing Workplace Exposure to the Coronavirus
- U.S. Department of Labor Issues Alert to Keep Package Delivery Workers Safe during COVID-19 Pandemic
- U.S. Department of Labor Issues Alert to Keep Retail Workers Safe During Coronavirus Pandemic
- U.S. Department of Labor Issues Alert to Help Keep Manufacturing Workers Safe During Coronavirus Pandemic
- U.S. Department of Labor Issues Alert to Help Keep Construction Workers Safe During The Coronavirus Pandemic
- OSHA Issue Safety Alert for Restaurant, Food and Beverage Businesses Providing Curbside Pickup and Takeout Service
Respirator Guidance:
- U.S. Department of Labor Expands Temporary Guidance for Respirator Fit-Testing to All Industries During COVID-19 Pandemic
- U.S. Department of Labor Issues Temporary Enforcement Guidance for Respirator Fit-Testing in Healthcare during COVID-19 Outbreak
- U.S. Department of Labor Issues Additional Respirator Guidance for Healthcare During The Coronavirus Pandemic
- U.S. Department of Labor Issues Guidance for Respirators Certified under Other Countries’ Standards During COVID-19 Pandemic
- U.S. Department of Labor Issues Guidance for Respiratory Protection During N95 Shortage Due to COVID-19 Pandemic
Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA’s role is to help ensure these conditions for America’s working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education, and assistance. For more information about OSHA, visit www.osha.gov.
On March 9, 2020, OSHA published its guidance on preparing workplaces for COVID-19 which was developed in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) to help companies respond in the event of Coronavirus in the workplace, according to a news release from OSHA. The guidance on COVID-19 from OSHA is at www.osha.gov/Publications/OSHA3990.pdf.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) is a potentially deadly respiratory illness that spreads from person to person. As of June 1, 2020, there are more than 6.1 million total confirmed global cases and more than 372,000 total global deaths, while the United States leads the world with more than 1.7 million total cases and more than 104,000 total deaths, according to research from Johns Hopkins University.
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