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OSHA Fines 37 Employers for COVID-19 Safety Violations

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited 37 establishments for coronavirus violations totaling US$489,069 in fines since the pandemic started.

OSHA cited businesses in 11 states: Ohio, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Indiana, Connecticut, Louisiana, South Dakota, Colorado, Texas, and Georgia.

The violations include failures to implement actions that would protect workers from injuries and infectious diseases, including COVID-19, such as:

• Implementing a written respiratory protection program
• Providing a medical evaluation, respirator fit test, training on the proper use of a respirator, and personal protective equipment (PPE)
• Reporting an injury, illness, or fatality
• Recording an injury or illness on OSHA recordkeeping forms.

OSHA has more information about the individual citations at its Establishment Search website. It also offers resources on its COVID-19 webpage to help employers comply with these standards.