A flurry of recent activity by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) illustrates the agency’s ongoing efforts to curtail the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace and should send a cautionary signal to employers.
In October, OSHA issued citations to several companies for failing to adequately protect employees from exposure to the virus. In one instance, an inspection of a company where an employee died from the virus revealed that 11 of 38 employees tested positive for COVID-19 during the relevant period. OSHA determined the company violated the General Duty Clause of the Occupation Safety and Health Act (Act) by allowing workers to congregate closely without face coverings, despite company policy requiring the use of masks and social distancing. More.