OSHA to Issue First Enforceable COVID-19 Standards

President Biden issued an executive order directing OSHA

to consider whether enforceable standards are necessary for addressing COVID-19 in the workplace and, if deemed necessary, issue such standards by March 15, 2021. In advance of the expected “emergency standards,” OSHA has released updated guidance which is expected to be incorporated into the new standards.  You can review the detailed guidance on OSHA’s website at https://www.osha.gov/coronavirus/safework

Issues addressed by the updated guidance, and expected to be part of any new enforceable standards, include:  (1) providing employees with face coverings; (2) providing a COVID-19 vaccine at no cost to eligible employees; (3) requiring employers not to distinguish between vaccinated and unvaccinated workers when implementing safety measures; (4) providing paid sick leave for employees who must quarantine; and (5) assigning a workplace coordinator responsible for implementing the workplace COVID-19 prevention program.

Michelle DeVoe,
DeVoe Law, LLC
michelle@devoe-law.com