Safety

OSHA Guidance on COVID-19 for Manufacturing

By Darcy Cook, CHSO, SHS, PTA, Safety Trainers

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety Health Administration (OSHA) issued new guidance on Aug. 13, 2021, which provides recommendations for employers to prevent COVID-19 exposure in the workplace. The latest guidance is specifically aimed at protecting unvaccinated workers [1], high risk workers, and those who are located in "areas of substantial or high community transmission." [2]

The guidance brings OSHA in line with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) July 27, 2021, recommendations regarding mask wearing by fully vaccinated individuals. While OSHA describes its guidance as "advisory in nature and informational in content," it still provides employers with helpful insight into dealing with workplace safety issues resulting from the spread of the delta variant of COVID-19.

The OSHA guidance urges employers to institute policies that encourage employees to get vaccinated as the most effective method to protect against COVID-19 or undergo regular testing. OSHA recommends that employers implement policies that provide paid time off to obtain the vaccine and/or to recover from possible side effects after the vaccine. Employers should encourage unvaccinated employees to undergo regular COVID-19 testing, wear a mask and practice social distancing.

What is Recommended?

• In areas of the country where the CDC determines there is "substantial or high" risk of COVID-19 transmission, the guidance advises employers to require fully vaccinated workers to wear masks while working indoors.   
• In all other areas of the country, OSHA recommends that fully vaccinated employees be required to wear masks while working indoors for 14 days if they come into close contact with anyone who has COVID-19 unless they have a negative COVID-19 test at least three to five days after the most recent contact.
• Nonvaccinated employees should continue to wear masks indoors and social distance as per prior OSHA and CDC guidance.

• Instruct workers to stay home from work if they have had close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19 and/or are suffering from symptoms related to COVID-19. Employers should review their sick time policies to encourage workers to not report to a work site when sick or after exposure to COVID-19;
• Require physical distancing in all shared or common work areas for unvaccinated and at-risk workers. Physical barriers may be used when social distancing is not possible. Consider implementing flexible work models, such as staggered schedules or rotating shifts, to minimize exposure;
• Provide workers with face coverings at no charge and encourage employees — who are at high risk, have a family member at high risk, are not fully vaccinated or work in an area of substantial or high transmission — to wear face masks when in public indoor settings.

Employers should follow federal anti-discrimination laws that may require reasonable accommodations for workers who are unable to wear or have difficulty wearing certain types of face coverings due to a disability or religious belief;

• Provide accessible education and training on COVID-19 policies and procedures. Trainings should include information explaining how COVID-19 spreads, the importance of protecting oneself, and who to contact about questions or concerns;
• Suggest or require that unvaccinated customers, visitors, or guests wear face coverings when engaging in face-to-face interactions between customers and workers (e.g., retail establishments);
• Utilize and maintain a ventilation system that functions properly;
• Perform routine cleaning and disinfection;
• Record and report COVID-19 infections and deaths as required by OSHA regulations;
• Implement protections against possible retaliation claims by providing an anonymous process for workers to voice concerns about COVID-19-related hazards; and 
• Continue to follow other applicable mandatory OSHA standards to protect workers from infection.

OSHA’s Aug. 13, 2021, guidance should be followed in conjunction with any applicable state and local requirements for COVID-19 prevention and protection in the workplace.

 Darcy Cook, CHSO, SHS, PTA, is President of Safety Trainers, a division of Cook Professional Resources, Inc. (Worcester, MA). She can be reached at (508) 799-2857 or at [email protected] or www.safetytrainers.com

[1] The guidance notes it is intended for employers and workers who are not covered by OSHA’s COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) for Healthcare (https://www.osha.gov/coronavirus/ets). Employers and workers covered by the ETS, that is employers and workers who provide healthcare services and healthcare support services as defined by the ETS, should refer specifically to the ETS for more information.

[2] To determine if you are in a substantial or high community transmission area click here.