OSHA Issues COVID-19 Safety Tips to Employers, Workers

Friday, April 10, 2020 | 0

The U.S. Department of Labor has issued several directives aimed at keeping workers safe and employers accountable in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the department said this week.

On Wednesday, the department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued a reminder to employers that it is illegal for them to retaliate against workers who report possible unsafe workplace conditions.

Retaliation can take several forms, including firings, demotions, denying overtime pay or reducing hours, the department stated.

“Employees have the right to safe and healthy workplaces,” Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Loren Sweatt said in a statement. “Any worker who believes that their employer is retaliating against them for reporting unsafe working conditions should contact OSHA immediately.”

OSHA said workers can file whistleblower complaints with the department if they feel they are victims of retaliation.

OSHA also said it has sent safety alerts to retail workers who may come in contact with the virus. The alert includes tips safety employers can relay to workers in pharmacies, grocery stores, big-box stores and other retail businesses.

The tips include routinely cleaning surfaces, using drive-through or curbside offerings, wearing masks and practicing social distancing when feasible.

On Monday, the department announced a new OSHA workplace poster aimed at informing workers on how to avoid COVID-19 and keep it from spreading. The new visual aid outlines 10 prevention steps that workplaces can implement to promote safety during the pandemic. 

The steps include encouraging sick employees to stay home; staggering shifts and creating flexible work sites; warning against using coworkers’ phones and other equipment; and using Environmental Protection Agency-approved cleaning products that denote ability to fight the virus.

The new poster is available in English and Spanish.