Meanwhile, the agency continues to have the following existing regulations and laws that are related and may apply to your facility:
- 29 CFR 1904, Recording and Reporting Occupational Injuries and Illness.
- 29 CFR 1910.132, General Requirements - Personal Protective Equipment.
- 29 CFR 1910.133, Eye and Face Protection.
- 29 CFR 1910.134, Respiratory Protection.
- 29 CFR 1910.141, Sanitation.
- 29 CFR 1910.145, Specification for Accident Prevention Signs and Tags.
- 29 CFR 1910.1020, Access to Employee Exposure and Medical Records.
- Section 5(a)(1), General Duty Clause of the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Act of 1970.
In addition, the agency has issued the following enforcement and guidance documents, along with other guidance materials:
- Revised National Emphasis Program – Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19); OSHA directive DIR 2021-03 (CPL-03), dated July 7, 2021;
- Updated Interim Enforcement Response Plan for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID- 19), dated July 7, 2021; and
- Protecting Workers: Guidance on Mitigating and Preventing the Spread of COVID-19 in the Workplace; OSHA guidance, dated August 13, 2021.
As of January 8, 2024, federal OSHA reported that the agency conducted 3,961 inspections under the COVID-19 National Emphasis Program, according to preliminary data. Of the 3,961 inspections, 1,071 were programmed inspections and 2,890 were unprogrammed inspections, including 820 complaints and 314 fatality/catastrophe inspections.
Also note that your state may be more stringent than federal OSHA. Check your state laws, regulations, and workplace safety agency websites to learn more. Check the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website for general guidance and best practices.