OSHA cites more than 200 employers for COVID-19 violations

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited more than 200 employers for coronavirus-related violations, with penalties totaling nearly $3 million.

OSHA also issued advice to employers about lessons learned based on the most common violations it has found so far during the pandemic. Employers have most frequently failed to follow requirements that deal with respiratory protection, personal protective equipment (PPE), and record-keeping and reporting obligations.

Among these requirements are:

· Provide a medical evaluation before a worker is fit-tested or uses a respirator

· Perform appropriate fit test for workers using tight-fitting respirators

· Assess the workplace to determine if COVID-19 hazards are present or likely to be present

· Establish, implement, and update a written respiratory protection program with required worksite-specific procedures

· Provide an appropriate respirator and/or other PPE to each worker when necessary to protect the health of employees (ensuring the respirator and/or PPE used is the correct type and size)

· Train workers to safely use respirators and/or other PPE in the workplace, and retrain workers about changes in the workplace that might make previous training obsolete

· Store respirators and other PPE properly in a way to protect them from damage, contamination, and, where applicable, deformation of the face piece and exhalation valve