Are you ready for OSHA’s New Guidelines?
On January 21, 2021 President Biden issued an Executive Order on Protecting Worker Health and Safety requiring the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) to take certain steps toward protecting the American workforce from contracting COVID-19 in the workplace.
To help you get ready, HSI has developed a quick assessment and guidance document to give you a heads up on the 16 focus areas you should be ready to address and a deeper guide designed to assure you fully understand OSHA’s expectations for protecting your workforce and to ensure you are prepared for OSHA enforcement activities.
Download the guideAnswer the questions below, or download our guide to find out how to prepare.
Written Programs
Various OSHA standards require employers to have written programs and policies, e.g., Hazard Communication, Respiratory Protection, Bloodborne Pathogens, etc. COVID-19 prevention is no different.
- Do you have a written COVID-19 prevention plan?
- Do you have a policy for handling employees with symptoms of COVID-19?
- Do you have a policy on staying home, isolating and quarantining?
HSI can help with these solutions:
- COVID-19 Plan Writer
- Infectious Disease Tool
- Incident Management
- Knowledge Base Tool
Hazard Control
The most effective hazard control practiced by health and safety professionals and supported by OSHA and NIOSH involves written hazard assessments and using the hierarchy of controls to eliminate and control risks in the workplace.
- Have you conducted a hazard assessment?
- Are you familiar with the hierarchy of controls principles?
- Have you instituted employee protection measures following the hierarchy of controls?
Regulatory Knowledge
Federal and State OSHA programs are rapidly changing since January 2021. It is important employers are aware of regulatory changes.
- Are you familiar with OSHA’s General Duty Clause and how it applies to COVID-19 enforcement activities?
- Do you have a method to stay informed as OSHA continues to take actions in response to the Presidential Executive Order?
Responsible Person(s)
OSHA is urging employers to designate a person or team of people at each organization to lead and organize initiatives to protect employees from the COVID-19 hazard.
- Have you designated a COVID-19 response coordinator?
Training
Various OSHA standards require employers to conduct training for their employees, e.g., Hazard Communication, Respiratory Protection, Bloodborne Pathogens, etc. COVID-19 prevention is no different.
- Have you delivered employee training on COVID-19?
- Do you have a method to train and share policy/procedures in languages employees understand?
HSI can help with these solutions:
- Pillar Training Management
- Select Training Courses
Systems and Protocols
Similar to protocols in OSHA’s Bloodborne Pathogen standard or Employee Access to Medical Records standard, OSHA has issued specific guidance for systems to implement and protocols to develop to protect the workforce from COVID-19.
- Do you have a system for screening employee health including virus testing?
- Do you have cleaning & disinfection protocols when there has been a confirmed case?
- Do you have a plan to make COVID-19 vaccine available at no cost to all employees?
Employee Rights
All employers are required to display the OSHA poster in their workplaces to inform employees of their rights under the Occupational Safety and Health Act. OSHA’s guidance document on COVID-19 specifies processes and policies an employer needs to provide for their employees.
- Do you have a system for employees to anonymously and without retaliation voice concerns about COVID-19 related hazards?
- Do you have policies to minimize negative impact on employees who must isolate and quarantine?
- Have you established a policy and procedure for reasonable accommodations?
- Do you have a plan to not distinguish safe work practices between vaccinated and non-vaccinated employees?
HSI can help with these solutions:
- COVID-19 Plan Writer
- Knowledge Base Tool
- Safety Alerts
Existing Regulatory Compliance
Several existing OSHA standards are applicable to COVID-19 prevention and mitigation. Ensure you are compliant with existing regulations.
- Are you recording work-related COVID-19 illness and death on the OSHA 300-log?
- Are you in compliance with existing regulations on Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), Respiratory Protection, Sanitation, Bloodborne Pathogens, Employee Access to Medical Records?
HSI can help with these solutions:
- Incident Management
- Compliance Checklists
- Select Training Courses
- Knowledge Base Tool