Ditchmen • NUCA of Florida Ditchmen - May 2020 | Page 28

OSHA Releases New
Enforcement Guida
The Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA) released two new
enforcement guidance policies with
impacts for your operations. Both policies
are “for enforcing OSHA’s requirements
with respect to coronavirus as economies
reopen in states throughout the country.”
1. Outlines OSHA’s procedures for
“increasing in-person inspections at all
types of workplaces.” This guidance,
while temporary, will remain in effect until
otherwise stated, is mainly directed at “Area
Offices and compliance safety and health
officers (CSHOs) for handling COVID-19-
related complaints, referrals, and severe
illness reports.” The new guidance outlines
what inspectors, should they visit your
facility, will likely ask to review, how they
will conduct themselves and what will be
expected of the employer and/or facility.
2. Clarifies what and when OSHA requires
for recording of COVID-19 cases by
employers. The new temporary guidance
states that COVID-19 is a recordable illness,
and thus employers are responsible for
recording cases of COVID-19, if:
■ The case is a confirmed case of
COVID-19, as defined by the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC);
■ The case is work-related as defined by 29
CFR § 1904.5;