Available Now: 2023 Schedule of Hazmat & RCRA Training
Search

OSHA Investigates Nearly 200 Coronavirus Workplace Safety Claims

Posted on 5/11/2020 by Lauren Scott

OSHA launched 192 coronavirus-related workplace safety investigations between February 19 and April 23 to determine whether employers failed to adequately protect their workers. This is the culmination of thousands of complaints fielded by investigators since January relating to the pandemic.

According OSHA data compiled by USA Today, half of these inspections involve at least one death or hospitalization stemming from COVID-19 complications.

These inspections often target at-risk workplaces, including 50 hospitals, 24 nursing homes, and 3 schools. In total, the inspections affect 96,000 employees. According to USA Today, this includes:
  • One school system garage in Lexington, KY, where 17 employees tested positive for COVID-19 and one died;
  • A meatpacking plant in Dakota City, NE, where the widow of a deceased employee alleges he continued to go to work after getting sick in order to receive incentive pay; and
  • Two tribal schools in Arizona that allegedly stayed open after other area schools shut down and where two employees died.
Five cases are now closed while the rest are currently under investigation.
 

More Ways OSHA is Helping Employers & Employees

OSHA has compiled plenty of easily digestible resources to help managers and workers understand their responsibilities during the coronavirus pandemic. You can find the latest updates and resources in our Coronavirus News Hub for EH&S Pros.

Recently, OSHA translated their Ten Steps All Workplaces Can Take to Reduce Risk of Exposure to Coronavirus Poster into 11 languages in addition to English and Spanish. Plus, OSHA created resources specifically for the hardest hit workers, such as those in package delivery, construction, and manufacturing.

Many workers have questions about respirators, specifically the N95 masks. OSHA has issued guidance for managers on how to navigate the mask shortage and how to spot a counterfeit N95 respirator.

Is COVID-19 a Recordable Illness Under 29 CFR 1904.7?

On April 10, 2020, OSHA issued interim guidance related to recording cases of COVID-19 that occur in the workplace. Normally, illnesses contracted in the workplace are recordable if they are new cases and result in medical treatment beyond first aid, days away from work, or other criteria in 29 CFR 1904.7.

Therefore, OSHA’s interim guidance for illness recordkeeping relaxes the recordkeeping requirement for COVID-19 cases for all employers except those in healthcare industry, emergency response organizations, and correctional institutions.

Convenient, Online OSHA Safety Training

Industry professionals worldwide are turning to online training to keep operations on track and protect employees. Lion’s online OSHA courses can help ensure your workers know their responsibilities, even when your team is spread out across multiple locations.
 
Lion’s most popular OSHA courses:
Respiratory Protection (in English or Spanish)
Personal Protective Equipment
10-Hour OSHA General Industry
Introduction to Industrial Hygiene
Health and Safety Management
 

Tags: coronavirus, COVID-19, osha, OSHA inspection, protecting workers, recordable illness, safety training, workplace safety

Find a Post

Compliance Archives

Lion - Quotes

Best instructor ever! I was going to take my DOT training w/a different provider, but based on this presentation, I will also be doing my DOT training w/Lion!

Donna Moot

Hazardous Waste Professional

I chose Lion's online webinar because it is simple, effective, and easily accessible.

Jeremy Bost

Environmental Health & Safety Technician

Lion Technology workshops are amazing!! You always learn so much, and the instructors are fantastic.

Dorothy Rurak

Environmental Specialist

Very good. I have always appreciated the way Lion Tech develops, presents and provides training and materials.

John Troy

Environmental Specialist

Excellent course. Very interactive. Explanations are great whether you get the questions wrong or right.

Gregory Thompson

Environmental, Health & Safety Regional Manager

The instructor was very very informative, helpful, understandable and pleasant. This course answered many questions I had, being new to this industry.

Frances Mona

Shipping Manager

Attending Lion Technology classes should be mandatory for every facility that ships or stores hazmat.

Genell Drake

Outbound Lead

The instructor was very engaging and helped less experienced people understand the concepts.

Steve Gall

Safety Leader

I really enjoyed this training. Even after years on both sides of the comprehension coin, I find myself still learning! The quality of the delivery exceeded much of the training I have received in the past.

Neil Ozonur

Safety Officer

I attended training from another provider and learned absolutely nothing. Lion is much better. Hands down.

Nicole Eby

Environmental Specialist

Download Our Latest Whitepaper

Explore the four specific 29 CFR Standards that OSHA inspectors overwhelmingly cite employers for when investigating COVID-19 exposure in the workplace.

Latest Whitepaper

By submitting your phone number, you agree to receive recurring marketing and training text messages. Consent to receive text messages is not required for any purchases. Text STOP at any time to cancel. Message and data rates may apply. View our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.