Archive Notice - OSHA Archive

NOTICE: This is an OSHA Archive Document, and may no longer represent OSHA Policy. It is presented here as historical content, for research and review purposes only.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued new guidance relating to recommended precautions for people who are fully vaccinated, which is applicable to activities outside of healthcare and a few other environments. OSHA is reviewing the recent CDC guidance and will update our materials on this website accordingly. Until those updates are complete, please refer to the CDC guidance for information on measures appropriate to protect fully vaccinated workers.

U.S. Department of Labor

Occupational Safety and Health Administration
Washington, D.C. 20210
Reply to the attention of:

DOL Logo

March 12, 2021

MEMORANDUM FOR:
REGIONAL ADMINISTRATORS
STATE PLAN DESIGNEES
THROUGH
AMANDA EDENS
Deputy Assistant Secretary
FROM:
PATRICK J. KAPUST, Acting Director
Directorate of Enforcement Programs
SUBJECT:
Updated Interim Enforcement Response Plan for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

This Updated Interim Enforcement Response Plan for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) provides new instructions and guidance to Area Offices and Compliance Safety and Health Officers (CSHOs) for handling COVID-19-related complaints, referrals, and severe illness reports.  On the date this memorandum is issued, the previous memorandum on this topic[1] will be rescinded, and this new Updated Interim Enforcement Response Plan will go into and remain in effect until further notice.  This guidance is intended to be time-limited to the current COVID-19 public health crisis.  Please frequently check OSHA's webpage at www.osha.gov/coronavirus for updates.

OSHA's priority is to use its resources to eliminate and control workplace exposures to SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2), the cause of COVID-19, and to provide OSHA enforcement personnel with the protections necessary to allow them to safely perform inspections.  Most workplaces within the scope of OSHA's authority have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.  Some workplaces have maintained operations throughout the pandemic, while others have not.  OSHA's mission is to assure safe and healthful working conditions for working men and women.

OSHA's enforcement of workplace safety and health requirements will reduce the risk of workplace transmissions of SARS-CoV-2.  The agency's updated Response Plan prioritizes enforcement and focuses on employers that are not making good faith efforts to protect workers.

The following summarizes OSHA's updated strategy:

  • OSHA will continue to implement the U.S. Department of Labor's (DOL) COVID-19 Workplace Safety Plan to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission to OSHA CSHOs during inspections.[2]
  • Pursuant to the March 12, 2021, National Emphasis Program (NEP) for COVID-19, DIR 2021-01 (CPL-03), OSHA will prioritize COVID-19-related inspections involving deaths or multiple hospitalizations due to occupational exposures to COVID-19.  In addition, this NEP will include the added focus of ensuring that workers are protected from retaliation.
  • Where practical, OSHA will perform on-site workplace inspections:
    • OSHA's goal is to identify exposures to COVID-19 hazards, ensure that appropriate control measures are implemented, and address violations of OSHA standards and the General Duty Clause.
    • OSHA will at times use phone and video conferencing, in lieu of face-to-face employee interviews, to reduce potential exposures to CSHOs.  In instances where it is necessary and safe to do so, in-person interviews shall be conducted.
    • OSHA will also minimize in-person meetings with employers and encourage employers to provide documents and other data electronically to CSHOs.
    • In all instances, Area Directors (AD) will ensure that CSHOs are prepared and equipped with the appropriate precautions and personal protective equipment (PPE) when performing on-site inspections related to COVID-19 and throughout the pandemic.
    • To the extent possible, all inspections should be conducted in a manner to achieve expeditious issuance of COVID-19-related citations and abatement.
  • In cases where on-site inspections cannot safely be performed (e.g., if the only available CSHO has reported a medical contraindication), the AD will approve remote-only inspections that may be conducted safely.
  • Inspections conducted entirely remotely will be documented and coded N-10-COVID-19 REMOTE.

NOTE: CSHOs who believe they may have been exposed to SARS-CoV-2 during an inspection must immediately report the potential exposure to their supervisor and/or AD.

The Office of Occupational Medicine and Nursing (OOMN) will provide assistance to ADs and CSHOs and serve as a liaison with relevant public health authorities.  OOMN can also facilitate Medical Access Orders (MAOs) necessary to obtain worker medical records from employers and healthcare providers.

All enforcement and compliance assistance activities must be appropriately coded to allow for tracking and program review.  This includes COVID-19 activity, which should continue to be coded in the OSHA Information System (OIS), in accordance with the COVID-19 NEP, DIR 2021-01 (CPL-03).

Attached is specific inspection and citation guidance for potentially applicable OSHA standards and the General Duty Clause, including new guidance related to the COVID-19 NEP.  This guidance is being provided to the OSHA-approved State Plans for informational purposes only.  If you have any questions regarding this policy, please contact the Office of Health Enforcement at (202) 693-2190.

Attachments

cc:       DCSP
            DTSEM
            DSG

{Correction 3/30/2021}

Attachment 1

Specific Guidance for COVID-19 Enforcement

  1. Workplace Risk Levels: To prioritize OSHA enforcement activities during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the following guidance is provided to help CSHOs identify workplaces and job tasks with a risk-based potential for COVID-19 exposures.  The risk of worker exposures to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, depends on numerous factors, including: the extent of community transmission; the type of work activity; the ability of workers to wear face coverings and appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE); the extent to which the employer follows OSHA standards and current guidelines from OSHA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); and the need to work in close contact with other people, hereafter defined as within 6 feet for a total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period, per the CDC.[3]  Potential for worker exposures could also depend on medical or other measures present to control the impact of the virus and the implementation of those measures. For example, vaccinations are becoming increasingly available to certain groups of workers and others in the general population.  Information on classifying risk of worker exposure is available on the Hazard Recognition page on OSHA's COVID-19 website.  OSHA has also prepared guidance that employers should use for planning purposes - Protecting Workers: Guidance on Mitigating and Preventing the Spread of COVID-19 in the Workplace.

    • Jobs with higher potential for exposure are those with tasks that expose workers to known or suspected sources of SARS-CoV-2.  The CDC has reported that COVID-19 is a highly infectious disease with potential for airborne spread, most commonly through respiratory droplets and particles produced when an infected person exhales, talks, vocalizes, sneezes, or coughs.  Thus, there is a higher potential for exposures at any workplace with high-population-density work environments, particularly where work is performed in poorly ventilated and enclosed spaces and workers are in close contact with others.  Workplaces with higher potential for exposure include, but are not limited to, hospitals, emergency response settings, nursing homes and assisted living, laboratories, morgues, schools, businesses, manufacturing, meat, poultry, and other food processing, and some high-volume retail settings.  Aerosol-generating procedures and operations, in particular, present a very high risk of exposure to workers.  In healthcare, aerosol-generating procedures for which additional engineering controls, administrative controls, and PPE may be necessary include, but are not limited to, bronchoscopy, sputum induction, nebulizer therapy, endotracheal intubation and extubation, open suctioning of airways, cardiopulmonary resuscitation and autopsies.
    • Jobs with lower potential for exposure to SARS-CoV-2 are those that do not require close contact with others.  Workers in this category have minimal occupational contact with the public and other coworkers.  Remote workers or office workers who do not have frequent close contact with coworkers, customers, or the public are in this category.

  2. Complaints, Referrals, Rapid Response Investigations (RRIs), and Programmed Inspections:

    To protect the health and safety of workers from SARS-CoV-2, Area Offices (AOs) will continue to prioritize inspections of COVID-19-related fatalities, multiple hospitalizations, and other unprogrammed activities alleging potential employee exposures to COVID-19-related hazards.  Additionally, OSHA will implement programmed inspections targeting those industries where OSHA has previously identified increased enforcement activity, and/or establishments with elevated rates of respiratory illnesses in CY 2020, pursuant to the COVID-19 NEP, DIR 2021-01 (CPL-03).  Complaint(s) or referral(s) for any general industry, agriculture, maritime, or construction operation alleging potential exposures to SARS-CoV-2 should be handled in accordance with the general procedures in the OSHA Field Operations Manual (FOM) Chapter 9, Complaint and Referral Processing.  OSHA will perform, to the extent possible, on-site inspections for formal complaints, hospitalizations, and fatalities, as outlined in the FOM.  Where appropriate, phone and video conferencing may be used instead of face-to-face interviews and meetings, to reduce potential for CSHO exposures.

    • Per the COVID-19 NEP, the highest priority should be given to fatality inspections related to COVID-19 and then to other unprogrammed inspections alleging employee exposure to COVID-19 related hazards.  AOs may schedule follow-up inspections related to COVID-19 hazards to meet the goals of the NEP where unprogrammed activities have decreased enough to allow them to do so.  In areas where both unprogrammed and follow-up COVID-19-related inspections do not enable offices to meet the goals of the NEP to reduce worker exposures to SARS-CoV-2, programmed inspections may take priority over follow-up inspections.
    • Sites selected for programmed inspections shall be inspected using either on-site or a combination of on-site and remote methods.
    • Fatality events potentially related to COVID-19 will be prioritized for inspection using either on-site inspections or a combination of on-site and remote methods, except in cases where an on-site inspection cannot be conducted safely. 
    • Formal complaints alleging hazardous work conditions/activities where employees have a high frequency of close contact exposures, e.g., complaints alleging SARS-CoV-2 hazards in healthcare and other workplaces with higher risk jobs, should be investigated using either on-site inspections or a combination of on-site and remote methods, except in cases where an on-site inspection cannot be performed safely: 
      • Area Directors (ADs) may use discretion in prioritizing resources when determining whether to modify FOM instructions by notifying the employer of the alleged hazard(s) or violation(s) by telephone, fax, email, or by letter, in lieu of an immediate on-site presence.
    • Other formal complaints alleging SARS-CoV-2 exposure, where employees are engaged in jobs with lower potential for exposure to SARS-CoV-2 (e.g., workers who do not regularly have close contact with others), may not warrant an on-site inspection, depending on whether non-formal investigative procedures can sufficiently address the alleged hazards. 
    • Non-formal complaints and employer referrals related to COVID-19 exposures will be investigated using non-formal inquiry processing, in accordance with the FOM, and other established procedures (e.g., rapid response investigations (RRI)).  Refer to procedures in the OSHA Memorandum on RRIs, dated March 4, 2016, for further information on RRI investigations.
      • In all phone/fax correspondences, AOs will direct employers to publicly-available guidance documents on protective measures, e.g., CDC's website and OSHA's COVID-19 webpage at www.osha.gov/coronavirus.
      • Inadequate responses to a phone/fax investigation should be considered justification for an inspection in accordance with the FOM.  See Attachment 2 for a sample letter for employers.
    • Where an on-site inspection is warranted but cannot be performed safely (e.g., if the only available CSHO has reported a medical contraindication), AOs will document the unsafe condition(s) preventing an on-site inspection and, with AD approval, follow the alternate inspection process (e.g., remote-only inspection) that can be done safely.  Remote-only inspections may be conducted with AD's approval to assure that SARS-CoV-2 hazards alleged in complaints, referrals, fatality reports, etc., are expeditiously investigated and abatement can be timely implemented (and, per the NEP, a portion of these will be re-inspected on site as follow-up, to ensure that compliance has occurred).
      • Entirely remote COVID-19 inspections shall be coded with the specific code, N-10-COVID-19 REMOTE.
      Note: the COVID-19 NEP includes guidance for follow-up inspections, and ADs may include any prior remote-only inspection for follow-up.
    • In circumstances where the AD determines resources are insufficient to allow on-site inspection of hazards ordinarily warranting inspection, the Regional Administrator can approve investigation of these cases through an RRI in order to identify any hazards, provide abatement assistance, and confirm abatement.
    • Workers fearing consequences for requesting inspections, complaining of COVID-19 exposure, or reporting illnesses may be covered under one or more whistleblower statutes.  Inform them of their protections from retaliation and refer them to www.whistleblowers.gov for more information, including how to file a retaliation complaint.  If the worker is alleging retaliation, the AO must submit a referral to the Regional Whistleblower Protection Program.

    OSHA will forward complaint information deemed appropriate to other federal, state, and local authorities with concurrent interests, as applicable.

  3. Inspection Scope, Scheduling, and Procedures:

    • Inspection Planning and Compliance Safety and Health Officer (CSHO) Training.  Facilities identified in Section I above as having job tasks with a higher potential for COVID-19 exposures, such as hospitals, emergency medical centers, and high-population density workplaces, may be identified for on-site inspections in response to COVID-19-related complaints/referrals and employer-reported illnesses.

      ADs or Assistant ADs shall continue using experienced CSHOs to perform COVID-19-related inspections in workplaces with higher potential for exposure, and shall continue to ensure less experienced CSHOs are paired with them as they gain the required experience and gain knowledge of CDC and OSHA's guidance.  In addition to on-the-job training, new CSHOs shall be trained through available course work, such as offered by the OSHA Training Institute (OTI), e.g., OSHA #2341 – Biohazards; OSHA #3360 – Healthcare), and archived webinars related to COVID-19 (OTI #0158 – Interim Response Plan; OTI #0161 – SHMS CSHO Safety; OTI #0162 – NIOSH Protecting Workers).  Additionally, a new webinar is planned for the COVID-19 NEP and this updated Response Plan and it will be archived for future use.

      CSHOs shall be made aware of the individual characteristics and underlying conditions that, according to the CDC, increase risk for developing severe illness and complications from COVID-19.  Note, however, that absence of these risk factors does not eliminate one's risk of severe illness and complications.  These risk factors include (but are not limited to):

      • Being 65 years of age or older;
      • Being on immunosuppressive drug therapy or otherwise being immunosuppressed;
      • Having a history of smoking; or
      • Having any of the following medical conditions: cardiovascular disease, asthma or other pulmonary disease, renal failure, liver disease, cancer, obesity, or diabetes.

      CSHOs shall be provided with appropriate respiratory protection (e.g., N95s, half half-mask elastomeric respirator) and the necessary sanitation equipment and supplies, including decontamination supplies (e.g., ordinary bleach wipes) for cleaning any equipment and materials brought on site.  CSHOs should dispose of used, disposable PPE and decontamination waste at the inspection site.  Reusable PPE (e.g., respirator facepiece) and other equipment should be cleaned on site or bagged and cleaned later.  See CSHO Protection section below for further guidance.

      NOTE:  Where inspections require coordination with other federal agencies, such as the U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), or local and state health departments, AOs shall contact the regional or local offices of these agencies to determine potential involvement of external authorities and coordinate efforts to maximize efficiencies and maintain controls.  Regional Offices should notify the Office of Federal Agency Programs in the National Office, as needed.

    • Inspection Procedures.  Inspection procedures in FOM Chapter 3 shall be followed, except as modified below.  CSHOs should also consult OSHA directives, appendices, and other references cited in this instruction for further guidance.

      • Opening Conference.  Inspections shall be conducted in a manner to assure the safety of CSHOs and all personnel they come in close contact with in the course of their inspections.  CSHOs shall observe all appropriate precautions for physical distancing, PPE use, and hygiene.  When on site, CSHOs will take additional precautions, as necessary, such as requesting to conduct opening conferences in a designated, uncontaminated administrative area or outdoors, and always wearing face coverings and necessary PPE.  As appropriate, CSHOs should speak to the safety director, infection control director, and/or the person responsible for implementing COVID-19 protections or occupational health hazard control.  Other individuals responsible for providing records pertinent to the inspection should also be included in the opening conference or interviewed early in the inspection (e.g., facility administrator, training director, facilities engineer, director of nursing, human resources).  Also, employee representatives, e.g., union officials, may accompany CSHOs during the inspection (see also, FOM, Chapter 3, describing CSHO authority to ensure fair and orderly inspections). 

        NOTE:  CSHOs should direct employers to the OSHA Guidance, Protecting Workers: Guidance on Mitigating and Preventing the Spread of COVID-19 in the Workplace, and/or other industry-specific guidance deemed appropriate.

      • Program and Document Review.  Prior to conducting a walkaround inspection, CSHOs shall take the following steps as appropriate to the facility:
        • Determine whether the employer has a written safety and health plan that includes contingency planning for emergencies and natural disasters, such as the current pandemic.  This is particularly important for large facilities, business operations, and institutions.  For example, in healthcare, government, and schools, a pandemic plan should be established, as recommended by the CDC.[4]  If this plan is a part of another emergency preparedness plan, the review does not need to be expanded to the entire emergency preparedness plan (i.e., a limited review addressing issues related to exposure to the COVID-19 virus would be adequate).  The evaluation of an employer's pandemic plan may be based upon other written programs, and in hospitals, a review of the infection control plan.[5]
        • Review the facility's procedures for hazard assessment and protocols for PPE use.
        • Determine whether the employer has implemented measures to facilitate physical distancing (e.g., barriers or administrative measures to encourage 6-foot distancing) and to ensure the use of face coverings by employees, customers and the public.

        • Review relevant information, such as medical records related to worker exposure incident(s), OSHA-required recordkeeping, and any other pertinent information or documentation deemed appropriate by the CSHO.  This includes determining whether any employees have contracted COVID-19, have been hospitalized as a result of COVID-19, or have been placed on precautionary removal/isolation.

          Note:  CSHOs in need of an OOMN consultation are encouraged to use the online OOMN consultation request form.  Also, for accessing medical records, CSHOs are encouraged to use the online Medical Access Order (MAO) Request Application.  For assistance with the above services, contact OOMN at (202) 693-2323.  Consider issuing a subpoena for medical records to compel production of the records by employers.

        • Review the respiratory protection program and any modified respirator policies related to COVID-19, e.g., policies modified during anticipated shortages of respirators, such as recommended by the CDC or the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for healthcare employers, and assess compliance where 29 CFR § 1910.134 applies.  See also, discussion of equipment shortages, below.  Also, if shortages are anticipated or experienced, document the employer's efforts to address these.
        • Review employee training records, including any records of training related to COVID-19 exposure prevention or in preparation for a pandemic, if available.
        • Review documentation of provisions made by the employer to obtain and provide appropriate and adequate supplies of PPE.
        Additional Steps Specific to Healthcare Facilities:

        • Where appropriate, determine if the facility has airborne infection isolation rooms/areas, and gather information about the employer's use of air pressure monitoring systems and any periodic testing procedures.[6]  Review any procedures for assigning patients to those rooms/areas and procedures used to limit access to those rooms/areas to employees who are trained and adequately outfitted with PPE.

          NOTE:  For testing procedures of isolation rooms, CSHOs should refer to the OSHA Directive, CPL 02-02-078, Enforcement Procedures and Scheduling for Occupational Exposure to Tuberculosis, June 30, 2015, Appendix B, Testing Methods for Airborne Infection Isolation Rooms, at, www.osha.gov/enforcement/directives/cpl-02-02-078.

        • Review procedures in place for transferring patients to other facilities in healthcare settings where appropriate isolation rooms/areas are unavailable or inoperable.  Also, review procedures for accepting COVID-19 patients transferring from other facilities.
        • Establish the numbers and placements, i.e., room assignments or designated area (cohorting) assignments, of confirmed and suspected COVID-19 patients under isolation at the time of inspection.
        • Establish the pattern of placements for confirmed and suspected COVID-19 patients in the preceding 30 days.
        • Determine whether the workplace has handled specimens or evaluated, cared for, or treated suspected or confirmed COVID-19 patients.  This should include a review of laboratory procedures for handling specimens and procedures for decontamination of surfaces.

        Determine and document whether the employer has considered or implemented a hierarchy of controls for worker protection, i.e., engineering controls, administrative controls, work practices, or PPE (including a respiratory protection program).  Such documentation can be in the form of written plans and procedures, photos, work orders, or design specifications.

        NOTE 1:  The CDC currently recommends that healthcare personnel (HCP) who are providing direct care of patients with known or suspected COVID-19 implement robust infection control procedures, which they should already have in place for other airborne infectious diseases like tuberculosis.  These include engineering controls (e.g., AIIRs), administrative controls (e.g., cohorting patients, designated HCP), work practices (e.g., handwashing, disinfecting surfaces), and appropriate use of PPE, such as gloves, face shields or other eye protection, and gowns.[7]

        NOTE 2:  Several tools are publicly available to offer employers assistance in developing preparedness plans.  The CDC has developed checklists for various industries and for different types of settings.  The national public service campaign, Ready.gov, provides toolkits and emergency planning resources for businesses.  These resources are listed in Attachment 5.

      • Walkaround.  Based on information from the program and document review and interviews, CSHOs and supervisors or ADs should determine what areas of a facility will be inspected (e.g., emergency rooms, respiratory therapy areas, bronchoscopy suites, and morgue in a hospital; kill floor, meat packing floor, locker room in a meat processing facility; assembly line in a manufacturing plant).  In healthcare settings, CSHOs should not enter patient rooms or treatment areas while high-hazard procedures are being conducted.  Photographs or videotaping where practical should be used for case documentation, such as recording smoke-tube testing of air flows inside or outside an airborne infection isolation room (AIIR).  However, under no circumstances shall CSHOs photograph or take video of patients, and CSHOs must take all necessary precautions to assure and protect patient confidentiality.  Throughout their engagement with facilities treating a significant number of COVID-19 patients, CSHOs should avoid interference with the facilities' ongoing medical services.

      • CSHO Protection.  ADs and Assistant Area Directors will ensure that CSHOs performing COVID-19-related inspections are familiar with the most recent CDC guidelines and OSHA's guidance, including general information, as well as industry-specific information, and trained as mentioned above.  Supervisors and CSHOs should also review ADM 04-00-003, OSHA Safety and Health Management System (SHMS), including Chapter 8, Personal Protective Equipment, and Chapter 19, Bloodborne Pathogens.[8]  Consultation with the Regional Office is encouraged prior to beginning such inspections.

        The Agency is working to make sure every CSHO will have access to COVID-19 testing, as necessary, to conduct on-site inspections safely.  The Agency and Department are also working to make sure vaccinations for COVID-19 are available as soon as possible.  CSHOs are also encouraged to take the annual influenza vaccine.

        ADs and Assistant Area Directors must ensure that appropriate PPE is available for CSHOs conducting on-site activities.  CSHOs should determine from the employer where donning, doffing, and decontamination can be done, as well as the location of additional PPE (if available) and decontamination waste disposal facilities, in preparation for the walkaround.  CSHOs must also be equipped with appropriate respiratory protection, goggles or face shields, disposable gloves, and disposable gowns or coveralls of appropriate size.  CSHOs must also ask employers if there are any facility-imposed PPE requirements and adhere to those PPE requirements during the inspection.

        The minimum levels of respiratory protection for CSHOs are a fit-tested half-mask elastomeric respirator with at least an N95-rated filter or a fit-tested, NIOSH-approved, disposable, filtering facepiece respirator (FFR), such as an N95, since they have an assigned protection factor (APF) of 10.  A fit-tested half-mask elastomeric respirator with at least an N95-rated filter is preferred as minimum protection for use in healthcare settings.  CSHOs shall have met all other applicable requirements, per OSHA Instruction, CPL 02-02-054, Respiratory Protection Program Guidelines, July 14, 2000, at  www.osha.gov/enforcement/directives/cpl-02-02-054, and OSHA Instruction, ADM 04-00-003, OSHA Safety and Health Management System, May 6, 2020, at www.osha.gov/enforcement/directives/adm-04-00-003.

        In cases where an FFR is being used, CSHOs should also have available their elastomeric respirator with appropriate filter cartridges for any anticipated exposures during an inspection that may not be adequately protected by an N95 FFR (e.g., any toxic gases/vapors or any particulates where the maximum use concentration would exceed an APF of 10).

        Additional PPE, such as gloves, goggles or face shields, gowns or coveralls shall be worn, as necessary, when CSHOs expect to be in areas of higher potential exposure during the inspection (e.g., laboratory or patient areas), or when required by the employer .

        In accordance with the Presidential Executive Order on Protecting the Federal Workforce and Requiring Mask-Wearing, January 20, 2021, all on-duty or on-site Federal employees, such as CSHOs, in Federal buildings and on Federal lands are required to wear face coverings (i.e., cloth face coverings or surgical masks), maintain physical distance, and adhere to other public health measures, as provided in CDC guidelines.  This also applies to CSHOs performing on-duty activities outside of Federal buildings, such as performing on-site inspections.

      • Safety Practices during On-Site Inspections.  CSHOs shall inspect facilities in a manner that minimizes or prevents risk of exposure (for example, view employee work tasks through an observation window).  CSHOs shall avoid potential exposure to suspected or confirmed COVID-19-positive persons (e.g., quarantined workers, patients, residents).  For example, in a hospital, it is not generally necessary for CSHOs to enter patient rooms or airborne isolations areas.  CSHOs shall not enter AIIRs or rooms occupied by COVID-19 patients to evaluate compliance.  If CSHOs must enter a vacant AIIR or patient room, sufficient time must lapse (to allow for proper clearance of potentially infectious aerosols) before entering.  (For information on clearance rates under differing ventilation conditions within healthcare settings, see www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5417a1).  Additionally, CSHOs may consult the Salt Lake Technical Center (SLTC) for assistance in evaluating the adequacy of control measures.  Prior to entering a recently vacated AIIR or patient area that has not been adequately purged, a CSHO must discuss the need for entry with the AD.

        As mentioned above, under circumstances where CSHOs need to test a room's ventilation or air flow (e.g., rooms where aerosol-generating procedures are performed), CSHOs shall, at a minimum, wear an N95 FFR or a half-mask negative-pressure respirator with at least an N95 filter, goggles, and disposable gloves.  If CSHOs wear full-face, negative- or positive-pressure respirators, those respirators take the place of goggles for the purposes of providing eye protection.

        As appropriate to the inspection, CSHOs shall conduct private interviews with affected employees in uncontaminated areas or remotely.  CSHOs should practice physical distancing (maintaining at least 6 feet of distance) and wear face coverings while conducting in-person interviews with employees.  Another option is conducting the interview by voice call, or better, video phone, even while still on site.  Interviews shall not take place in a room or area where high-hazard procedures such as bronchoscopy, sputum induction, certain dental procedures in high-transmission communities, lab procedures, mortuary procedures, etc., are being or recently have been conducted.

        CSHOs must wash their hands with soap and water after each inspection or use hand sanitizers with at least 60% alcohol if handwashing facilities are not immediately available.  Also, prior to leaving the site, CSHOs will decontaminate supplies and equipment using bleach wipes or other approved disinfectant wipes,[9] and dispose of all used, disposable PPE and decontamination waste on site, or bag and clean later.  CSHOs are also encouraged to wash their hands during the course of the walkaround, such as when leaving areas and after touching surfaces.  CSHOs should always wash hands after removing gloves or other PPE.  CSHOs should practice contamination reduction techniques, i.e., limiting surface touching, and avoiding secondary or subsequent contact, especially with their faces when donning and doffing PPE or face coverings. 

      • Applicable OSHA Standards.  Several OSHA standards may apply, depending on the circumstances of the case.  In the event that OSHA issues an emergency temporary standard (ETS), pursuant to the Presidential Executive Order on Protecting Worker Health and Safety, January 21, 2021, citation guidance will be updated.  CSHOs must rely on the specific facts and findings of each case for determining applicability of OSHA standards.  The list of general industry standards applicable to infectious diseases, such as COVID-19 include the following (see also, corresponding standards for other industries, as applicable to the inspection):
        • 29 CFR Part 1904, Recording and Reporting Occupational Injuries and Illness.
        • 29 CFR § 1910.132, General Requirements-Personal Protective Equipment.
        • 29 CFR § 1910.134, Respiratory Protection.
        • 29 CFR § 1910.141, Sanitation.
        • 29 CFR § 1910.145, Specification for Accident Prevention Signs and Tags.
        • 29 CFR § 1910.1020, Access to Employee Exposure and Medical Records.
        • Section 5(a)(1), General Duty Clause of the OSH Act.
        NOTE:  OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogens (BBP) standard (29 CFR § 1910.1030) applies to occupational exposure to human blood and other potentially infectious materials that typically do not include respiratory secretions that may contain SARS-CoV-2 (unless visible blood is present).  However, the provisions of the standard offer a framework that may help control some sources of the virus, including exposures to body fluids (e.g., respiratory secretions) not covered by the standard.  Additionally, the BBP standard will apply to facilities where COVID-19 vaccinations are being administered by employees covered by OSHA.
      • Observation of hazards.  Where no violations of OSHA standards, regulations, or the general duty clause are observed or documented, CSHOs shall complete the walkaround portions of the inspection and immediately leave the facility. 
      • Citation Guidance.  The above list of applicable standards is not exhaustive, and depending on the specific work task, setting, and exposure to other biological or chemical agents, additional OSHA requirements may apply (e.g., 29 CFR § 1910.133, 29 CFR § 1910.138, 29 CFR § 1910.1200).  Violations of OSHA standards cited under this inspection guidance will normally be classified as serious.

      • General Duty Clause  If deficiencies not addressed by OSHA standards or regulations are discovered in the employer's preparedness for controlling occupational exposure risk for SARS-CoV-2, and guidance is available (e.g., CDC), follow the FOM guidance for obtaining evidence of a potential general duty clause violation, including the four required elements:  (1) The employer failed to keep the workplace free of a hazard to which employees of that employer were exposed; (2) The hazard was recognized; (3) The hazard was causing or was likely to cause death or serious physical harm; and, (4) There was a feasible and useful method to correct the hazard.

        Unless the investigative evidence establishes all four of the above elements, the AO should issue a hazard alert letter (HAL) recommending the implementation of protective measures that address SARS-CoV-2 hazards.  For example, if there is no evidence that an employee was potentially exposed to the virus in the workplace, then the first element is not met.  See Attachment 3 for {a sample HAL to be used as a template for AOs to address to an employer (or a Federal agency), and includes recommended steps to eliminate or materially reduce worker exposure to COVID-19 hazards.}  Additional example HALs are available on the OSHA intranet.

        Note: In the event that OSHA issues an ETS, violations under the ETS will take precedence over general duty clause citations.
      • Use of CDC recommendations.  The current CDC guidance should be consulted in assessing potential workplace hazards and to evaluate the adequacy of an employer's protective measures for workers.  Where the protective measures implemented by an employer are not as protective as those recommended by the CDC, the CSHO should consider whether employees are exposed to a recognized hazard and whether there are feasible means to abate that hazard.

      • Citation Review.  In all cases where the AD determines that a condition exists warranting issuance of a 5(a)(1) violation, or a notice of a violation of § 1960.8(a) to a federal agency, for an occupational exposure to SARS-CoV-2, the proposed citation shall be reviewed with the Regional Administrator and the National Office prior to issuance.  In general duty clause cases, the Regional Offices shall also consult with their Regional Solicitor.  See Attachment 4 for a sample alleged violation description (AVD).  Additional internal resources relating to COVID-19 are also available on the OSHA intranet.

        Additionally, per the NEP, when COVID-19-related citations or HALs are issued to an establishment for a corporation that has more than one location engaged in the same or similar operations, CSHOs will consult with the AD  to send a letter to the corporate entity.  The letter should inform them of the COVID-19 observed hazard(s), share the copy of the citation or HAL and recommend they conduct a hazard assessment and abate any COVID-19 hazards in their other establishment(s).  A sample letter for this is included in the NEP, Appendix E.

    • Additional Guidance for Certain OSHA Standards.

      • Access to employee medical and exposure records.  For general guidance, CSHOs should refer to CPL 02-02-072, Rules of Agency Practice and Procedure Concerning OSHA Access to Employee Medical Records, August 22, 2007, at www.osha.gov/enforcement/directives/cpl-02-02-072.  CSHOs are encouraged to consult with OOMN for guidance if they have any questions when reviewing medical records and for obtaining MAOs, as necessary.

        A record concerning an employee's work-related exposure to SARS-CoV-2 is an employee exposure record under 29 CFR § 1910.1020(c)(5).  A record of COVID-19 medical test results, medical evaluations, or medical treatment is considered an employee medical record within the meaning of 29 CFR § 1910.1020(c)(6).  Medical records are to be handled in accordance with the procedures set forth at 29 CFR § 1913.10, Rules of Agency Practice and Procedure Concerning OSHA Access to Employee Medical Records.

      • Injury/Illness Records.  CSHOs should review the employer's injury and illness records to identify any workers with recorded illnesses or symptoms associated with exposure(s) to persons with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 or other sources of SARS-CoV-2.

        For purposes of OSHA injury and illness recordkeeping, cases of COVID-19 are not considered a common cold or seasonal flu.  The work-relatedness exception for the common cold or flu at 29 CFR § 1904.5(b)(2)(viii) does not apply to these cases.  Note that OSHA had been exercising enforcement discretion for the recording of COVID-19 cases, in certain circumstances.  As transmission and prevention of COVID-19 infection have become better understood, employers should have an increased ability to determine whether an employee's COVID-19 illness is likely work-related, e.g., if the employee while on the job has frequent, close contact with the general public in a locality with ongoing community transmission and there is no alternative explanation.  OSHA provided guidance for all employers.  See OSHA Memorandum, Revised Enforcement Guidance for Recording Cases of 2019 Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) on OSHA Injury and Illness Logs, issued on May 19, 2020, www.osha.gov/memos/2020-05-19/revised-enforcement-guidance-recording-cases-coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19.   

        Employers are responsible for recording cases of COVID-19 if all of the following requirements are met:

        • The case is a confirmed case of COVID-19, as defined by the CDC;
        • The case is work-related, as defined by 29 CFR § 1904.5; and
        • The case involves one or more of the recording criteria set forth in 29 CFR § 1904.7 (e.g., medical treatment, days away from work).

        NOTE:  Several types of facilities in the healthcare industry are partially exempt from recordkeeping requirements under 29 CFR Part 1904 and are, therefore, not expected to maintain OSHA 300 logs.[10]  CSHOs should rely on interviews and other records reviewed during the investigation at these facilities.  Although facilities in these industries are exempt from maintaining OSHA 300 logs, they are not exempt from the reporting requirements under 29 CFR § 1904.39(a)(1) or 29 CFR § 1904.39(a)(2).

      • Respiratory Protection Standard.  For general guidance, CSHOs should refer to CPL 02-00-158, Inspection Procedures for the Respiratory Protection Standard, June 26, 2014, at www.osha.gov/enforcement/directives/cpl-02-00-158.

        During an inspection, CSHOs will evaluate whether workers, are using proper respiratory protection when necessary.

        Appropriate respiratory protection is required for all healthcare personnel providing direct care for patients with suspected or confirmed cases of COVID-19.  For additional guidance, see COVID-19 Hospital Preparedness Assessment Tool, www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/hcp-hospital-checklist.

        Equipment Shortages.  As supplies of health and safety equipment have increased to meet the high demands of the early and peak stages of the pandemic, shortages are becoming less of a barrier to compliance.   Only a temporary increase in demand for equipment, such as N95 FFRs, should cause an employer to anticipate a periodic limitation on their availability.  For healthcare and emergency response, employers in such settings have been advised to follow the CDC's strategies for optimizing their supplies of respirators.[11]  These strategies may also be useful to non-healthcare employers anticipating temporary shortages of respirators.  The CDC strategies are also intended to be time-limited and applicable only to certain circumstances described in the guidance.

        As an alternative to using multiple N95 FFRs, many healthcare employers have switched critical staff to wearing NIOSH-approved, non-disposable, elastomeric respirators or powered air-purifying respirators (PAPRs) to reduce the demand for N95 FFRs.  See also, OSHA memorandum, Temporary Enforcement Guidance – Tight-Fitting Powered Air Purifying Respirators (PAPRs) Used During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic, October 2, 2020.

      • Enforcement Discretion.  In view of periodic equipment shortages and limitations during the COVID-19 pandemic, OSHA has provided specific enforcement discretion procedures, as described in several Enforcement Memoranda, for CSHOs enforcing OSHA standards, such as the Respiratory Protection standard, 29 CFR § 1910.134.  OSHA has not waived compliance with any of its requirements, and any enforcement discretion is intended to be time-limited and applicable on a case-by-case basis.  Where respirators or associated supplies and services are readily available, enforcement discretion will not be exercised.

        When considering citations, CSHOs should evaluate whether the employer made good faith efforts to comply with applicable OSHA standards and, in situations where compliance was not possible during the pandemic, to ensure that employees were not exposed to hazards from tasks, processes, or equipment for which they were not adequately trained.  As part of assessing whether an employer engaged in good faith compliance efforts, CSHOs should determine whether the employer thoroughly explored alternative options to comply with the applicable standard(s), such as the use of virtual training or remote communication strategies, or efforts to obtain alternate respiratory protection devices (e.g., N95 respirators) when supplies were depleted.

  4. Coding and Point of Contact.

    All activity, specifically enforcement and compliance assistance, will be appropriately coded in the OSHA Information System (OIS) to allow for tracking and program review.  As explained in the COVID-19 NEP, all enforcement activities related to that Directive shall be coded with the specific NEP code, COVID-19.  The additional codes listed in the NEP shall continue to be used for remote inspections, inspections where enforcement discretion was used (i.e., abatement deferred), and related event codes for violations and hazard alert letters (HALs).  If you have any questions regarding these procedures, please contact the Office of Health Enforcement at (202) 693-2190.

Attachment 2

Sample Employer Letter for COVID-19 Complaint

Area Offices may use this sample letter for non-formal inquiry processing of complaints and referrals, in accordance with the FOM, and other established procedures (e.g., rapid response investigations (RRI).  The sample correspondence, below, directs employers to publicly-available guidance documents on protective measures, e.g., CDC's website and OSHA's COVID-19 webpage.  Bracketed and/or italicized comments are for OSHA compliance use only and should be removed when appropriately completed with the case-specific information.

RE: OSHA Complaint No. [                   ]

Dear Employer:

On [Date], the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) received notification of alleged workplace hazard(s) at your worksite concerning [Potential illness:  an employee exhibiting signs and symptoms of respiratory illness, such as, fever, cough, and/or shortness of breath, possibly indicating infection by SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2), which is the virus causing the current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.] or [PPE shortage:  employees not provided with adequate personal protective equipment (PPE), such as respiratory protection, gloves, and gowns.]  The specific nature of the complaint is as follows:

<< ENTER COMPLAINT INFORMATION >>

OSHA does not intend to conduct an on-site inspection in response to the subject complaint at this time.  However, because allegations of violations and/or hazards have been made, we request that you immediately investigate the alleged conditions and make any necessary corrections or modifications.  Please advise me in writing, no later than [Date Response Due], of the results of your investigation.  You must provide supporting documentation of your findings. This includes any applicable measurements or monitoring results; photographs/video that you believe would be helpful; and a description of any corrective action you have taken or are in the process of taking, including documentation of the corrected condition.

In addition, OSHA is aware that the current pandemic has created an increased demand for some protective equipment, limiting availability for use in protecting workers from exposure to the virus.  If this situation has prevented you from furnishing protective equipment to your employees, you should provide documentation of the efforts you have made to obtain that equipment.  Please feel free to contact the office at [AO phone] if you have any questions or concerns.  [If the complaint is at a CMS certified facility add the following: We are also advising you that OSHA will notify the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) of substantiated complaints for their consideration].

This letter is not a citation or a notification of proposed penalty which, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Act, may be issued only after an inspection or investigation of the workplace.  It is our goal to assure that hazards are promptly identified and eliminated.  Please take immediate corrective action where needed.  Depending on the specific circumstances at your worksite, several OSHA requirements may apply to the alleged hazards at your worksite, including:

  • 29 CFR Part 1904, Recording and Reporting Occupational Injuries and Illness.
  • 29 CFR § 1910.132, General Requirements - Personal Protective Equipment.
  • 29 CFR § 1910.134, Respiratory Protection.
  • 29 CFR § 1910.141, Sanitation.
  • 29 CFR § 1910.145, Specification for Accident Prevention Signs and Tags.
  • 29 CFR § 1910.1020, Access to Employee Exposure and Medical Records.
  • Section 5(a)(1), General Duty Clause of the OSH Act.

OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogens standard (29 CFR § 1910.1030) applies to occupational exposure to human blood and other potentially infectious materials that typically do not include respiratory secretions that may contain SARS-CoV-2 (unless visible blood is present).  However, the provisions of the standard offer a framework that may help control some sources of the virus, including exposures to body fluids (e.g., respiratory secretions) not covered by the standard.  This standard applies to facilities administering vaccinations for COVID-19.

Information about these and other OSHA requirements can be found on OSHA's website at www.osha.gov/laws-regs.

If we do not receive a response from you by [Date Response Due] indicating that appropriate action has been taken or that no hazard exists and why, an OSHA inspection may be conducted.  An inspection may include a review of the following:  injury and illness records, hazard communication, personal protective equipment, emergency action or response, bloodborne pathogens, confined space entry, lockout/tagout, and related safety and health issues.  Please also be aware that OSHA conducts random inspections to verify that corrective actions asserted by the employer have actually been taken.

OSHA's website, www.osha.gov, offers a wide range of safety and health-related guidance in response to the needs of the working public, both employers and employees.  The following guidance may help employers prevent and address workplace exposures to pathogens that cause acute respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19 illness.  The guidance includes descriptions of the relevant hazards, how to identify the hazards, and appropriate control measures.  Additional resources are provided that address these supply issues and contain industry-specific guidance.

  1. For OSHA's latest information and guidance on the COVID-19 pandemic, please refer to OSHA's COVID-19 Safety and Health Topics Page, located at www.osha.gov/coronavirus.
  2. Protecting Workers: Guidance on Mitigating and Preventing the Spread of COVID-19 in the Workplace, located at www.osha.gov/coronavirus/safework
  3.  [Add additional links, as needed, for industry specific guidance, such as one or more of those listed in Attachment 5.]

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also maintains a website that provides information for employers concerned about COVID-19 infections in the workplace.  The CDC has provided specific guidance for businesses and employers at the following CDC webpage, which is updated regularly: www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/organizations/businesses-employers.

  1. For general information and guidance on the COVID-19 pandemic, please refer to the CDC's main topic webpage at www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/.
  2. Resources for businesses and employers, www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/organizations/businesses-employers.html.
  3. [Add additional links, as needed, for industry specific guidance, such as one or more of those listed in Attachment 5.]

The CDC is recommending employers take the following steps to prevent the spread of COVID-19:

  • Plan for infectious disease outbreaks in the workplace
  • Assess workplace hazards and determine what controls or PPE are needed for specific job duties
  • Consider improving engineering controls, including the building ventilation system
  • Ensure employees wear face coverings in accordance with CDC and OSHA guidance, as well as any state or local requirements
  • Actively encourage sick employees to stay home
  • Consider conducting daily in-person or virtual health checks
  • Accommodate employees through physical distancing or telework 
  • Emphasize respiratory etiquette and hand hygiene by all employees
  • Perform routine environmental cleaning

You are requested to post a copy of this letter where it will be readily accessible for review by all of your employees, and to return a copy of the signed Certificate of Posting (attached) to this office.  In addition, you are requested to provide a copy of this letter and your response to a representative of any recognized employee union or safety committee that exist at your facility.  Failure to do this may result in an on-site inspection.  The complainant has been furnished a copy of this letter and will be advised of your response.  Section 11(c) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act provides protection for employees against retaliation because of their involvement in protected safety and health related activity. 

If you have questions regarding this issue, you may contact me at the address in the letterhead.  I appreciate your personal support and interest in the safety and health of your employees.

Sincerely,

Area Director

Attachment [Certificate of Posting not included in this sample letter]

Attachment 3

Sample Hazard Alert Letters for a COVID-19 Inspection

NOTE:  The {letter below is an example} of the type of letter that may be appropriate in some circumstances.  It must be adapted to the specific circumstances noted in the relevant inspection.  If the employer has implemented, or is in the process of implementing, efforts to address hazardous conditions, those efforts should be recognized and encouraged, if appropriate.  Bracketed and/or italicized comments are for OSHA compliance use only and should be removed when appropriately completed with the case-specific information.

 

{Dear Employer:

An inspection by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently took place at your facility, (facility name, location), on (date(s)).

OSHA has determined that conditions in your workplace do not, at this time, constitute a violation of Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act). Section 5(a)(1) is the general duty clause of the OSH Act. In addition, our investigation did not identify a violation of any specific OSHA regulation. [This last sentence would be deleted if a 5(a)(2) citation is being issued.]

[NOTE: This sample letter may also be adapted for sending to a Federal agency by changing the first sentence in the above paragraph to read: OSHA has determined that conditions in your workplace do not, at this time, constitute a violation of 29 CFR § 1960.8(a). Section 1960.8(a) is the equivalent to the private sector general duty clause of the OSH Act.]

Therefore, no citations [notices] will be issued by OSHA at this time. However, during the course of our inspection OSHA identified condition(s) that may expose workers to COVID-19 hazards. OSHA’s mission is to ensure that employers provide a workplace free of preventable hazards, including COVID-19 hazards. Our concerns observed during this inspection are detailed below and identify potential hazards that you should address.

[Include a general description of the working conditions at issue and the nature of OSHA’s concerns for potential transmission of COVID-19. Address the lack of any of the OSHA layers of control.]

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected each and every workplace in the United States. The most effective measures to address workplace COVID-19 hazards require the integration of multiple layers of protection into your existing health and safety system. The illustration below provides a graphic representation of how these controls operate to ensure a safe and healthy work environment.

 

Slow the spread of covid-19 at work

Slow the spread of covid-19 at work. No single protective layer can prevent the spread. The more safeguards, the better. Imag shows 6 protective layers between the virus (far left) and a worker (far right). Layers from left to right include physical distance, mask or other PPE, barriers, ventilation, health screening, and cleaning and disinfection. Source: osha.gov/coronavirus

 

We recommend you implement the steps found in the link below and described in the following paragraph to eliminate or materially reduce worker exposure to COVID-19 hazards in your workplace. We know that workplace spread of COVID-19 remains a significant source of the overall spread of the disease in our communities. OSHA draws upon the science and experience of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, and our own guidance as listed on the website below to guide recommendations of the controls that should be instituted in your workplace.

www.osha.gov/coronavirus

These resources should help guide you to better select PPE or face coverings; to implement physical distancing between workers; to provide guidance on cleaning and disinfecting; to inform you about physical barriers if safe distances between workers cannot be maintained; to inform you about improvements in ventilation for your workplace; to assist you in identifying worker training to make your system effective; and to inform you about vaccines and health screening (testing). Our experience informs us that the most important elements from these layered controls are physical distancing between workers and PPE or face coverings for workers. Training workers about the importance of COVID-19 controls, and their roles in implementing those controls, is one of the best ways to ensure their effective and consistent implementation. Proper implementation of all of these cumulative controls, with emphasis on distancing and PPE or face coverings, will improve your health and safety system as it pertains to protecting your workers from risk of contracting COVID-19 at work.

We request that you implement improvements to your health and safety system, please also know that we stand ready to assist you. You can contact OSHA’s compliance assistance staff for help. You can find more information about our compliance assistance at www.osha.gov/complianceassistance/cas.

To evaluate your efforts in reducing these hazards, please send me a letter detailing the actions you have taken, or plan to institute, to address our concerns within 30 days of the date of this correspondence. We will review your response and determine if a follow up is needed to further evaluate your workplace, including any recommended/implemented controls.

Under OSHA’s current investigation procedures, we may visit your work site within six months to examine the conditions noted above.

Enclosed is a list of available resources that may be of assistance to you in preventing work-related injuries and illnesses in your workplace. Additionally, general compliance assistance resources for employers are available at www.osha.gov/employers.

Thank you in advance for your attention to these concerns. Working together, we can move closer to achieving the goal of workplaces free of preventable hazards. If you have any questions, please feel free to call (name and phone number) at (address).

Sincerely,
Area Director

cc:   

(Fname Lname), local union representative (or worker advocate designated representative)
(Fname Lname), Company owner, president, CEO, or corporate safety representative [or Federal Designated Agency Safety and Health Official (DASHO)]

Confidential Copy to: Complainant (if applicable)}

 

Attachment 4

Sample Alleged Violation Description (AVD) for Citing the General Duty Clause

 

This general alleged violation description (AVD) language below is presented as an example to assist Compliance Safety and Health Officers (CSHOs) in developing citations under the general duty clause, Section 5(a)(1), of the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Act.  Citations should be drafted in consultation with the Regional Solicitor to reflect specific conditions found at establishments and to give notice to employers of the particular hazardous condition or practice cited. 

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act: The employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which were free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees, in that employees were working in close proximity to each other and were exposed to SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2), the cause of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).
(a) (LOCATION) (DATE) (IDENTIFY SPECIFIC OPERATION/TASK(S) AND DEPARTMENTS, DESCRIBE CONDITIONS, INCLUDING EXPOSURE LEVELS) On or about [Date], the employer did not develop and implement timely and effective measures to mitigate the spread of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.  Employees working [in the emergency room staffed with 35 employees, on [DATE]: Three employees, a physician, nurse, and nursing assistant, were providing direct patient care – performing a routine endotracheal intubation procedure - to a patient who was previously confirmed to be infected with SARS-CoV-2.  
The employer did not ensure that appropriate and available engineering controls were used to protect against infective respiratory droplets and aerosols, in that [an available isolation room was not used for the procedure, thereby exposing adjacent unprotected] workers to SARS-CoV-2.[12]  These conditions allowed the perpetuation of an outbreak of COVID-19 at the facility.  As of [Date], the employer had [number] total positive tests out of approximately [number] employees.
Among other methods, feasible and acceptable means of abatement for this hazard include: 
  1. Erect an airborne infection isolation (AIIR) room with negative pressure that provides a minimum of 6 air exchanges, or 12 air exchanges (new construction or renovation), per hour.[13]
  2. Erect physical barriers or partitions in triage areas to guide patients.
  3. Install curtains separating patients in semi-private areas.
  4. Install isolation tents or other portable containment structures that can serve as alternative patient-placement facilities when AIIRs are not available and/or examination room space is limited.
  5. Training: All employees must be trained on the need for such controls and to be aware that when the controls are not operating efficiently they should not be used and the appropriate authorities should be contacted to correct the problems encountered.
Note: COVID-19 inspections resulting in a proposed 5(a)(1) citation are considered novel cases.  The Directorate of Enforcement Programs (DEP) and the Regional Solicitor's Office must be notified of all such proposed citations and federal agency Notices that relate to COVID-19 exposures.  

 

Attachment 5

Additional COVID-19-Related References

 

Please see the following references and web-links for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)-related guidance and technical information.  For subsequent updates, continue to refer to OSHA's COVID-19 Safety and Health Topics page located at www.osha.gov/coronavirus. 

 

U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) / OSHA Guidance:

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS):

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)/National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)

Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR)

Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

National Institutes of Health (NIH)/National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA):

Ready.gov

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA):

Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC):

American Dental Association (ADA):

American College of Surgeons:

ASTM:

  • ASTM F3502-21, Standard Specification for Barrier Face Coverings, ASTM International, West Conshohocken, PA, 2021, www.astm.org.

American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE):

[1] OSHA Memorandum, Interim Enforcement Response Plan for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), May 19, 2020, www.osha.gov/memos/2020-05-19/updated-interim-enforcement-response-plan-coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19. [Back to Text]

[2] See www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/general/plans/2021-covid-19-workplace-safety-plan. [Back to Text]

[3] See www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/php/contact-tracing/contact-tracing-plan/appendix. [Back to Text]

[4] For hospitals, see www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/hcp-hospital-checklist. [Back to Text]

[5] See CDC's Interim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Healthcare Personnel During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic, www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/infection-control-recommendations. [Back to Text]

[6] Airborne Infection Isolation Room (AIIR): A room designed to maintain Airborne Infection Isolation (AII).  AIIRs are single-occupancy patient-care rooms used to isolate persons with suspected or confirmed infectious disease. Environmental factors are controlled in AIIRs to minimize the transmission of infectious agents that are usually spread from person to person by droplet nuclei associated with coughing or aerosolization of contaminated fluids. AIIRs should be maintained under negative pressure (so that air flows under the door gap into the room), at an air flow rate of 6–12 air changes per hour, and there should be direct exhaust of air from the room to the outside of the building or recirculation of air through a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter. [Back to Text]

[7] CDC, Interim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Patients with Suspected or Confirmed Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Healthcare Settings, at: www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/infection-control/control-recommendations. [Back to Text]

[8] See www.osha.gov/enforcement/directives/adm-04-00-003. [Back to Text]

[9] See, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), List N: Disinfectants for Use Against SARS-CoV-2: www.epa.gov/pesticide-registration/list-n-disinfectants-use-against-sars-cov-2. [Back to Text]

[10] Currently exempt are offices of physicians, outpatient care centers, and medical and diagnostic laboratories. For the full list, see Appendix A to 29 CFR Part 1904, Subpart B, at: www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1904/1904SubpartBAppA. [Back to Text]

[11] See www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/respirators-strategy. [Back to Text]

[12] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Interim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Patients with Suspected or Confirmed Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Healthcare Settings, at: www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/infection-control/control-recommendations. [Back to Text]

[13] CDC Infection Control.[Back to Text]