OSHA Interim Guidance
OSHA’s interim guidance on COVID-19 includes information on:
A list of additional resources employers may use to understand, prepare for and deal with COVID-19.
Employers are encouraged to visit and review this information often to stay up to date with developments on this global concern. The sections below provide a high overview of the information mentioned above.
Hazard Recognition
According to the CDC, the risk of COVID-19 infection for most people in the United States is currently low. However, workers in the industries mentioned above may be at a higher risk of exposure to COVID-19. Employers in these industries should take additional steps to protect their employees.
The hazard recognition section provides practical advice and tips employers can use to detect possible workplace outbreaks and identify affected individuals.
Affected OSHA Standards
This section highlights OSHA standards, directives (instructions for compliance officers) and other related information that may apply to worker exposure to COVID-19.
While there is no specific OSHA standard covering COVID-19, some OSHA requirements may apply to preventing occupational exposure to COVID-19. Among the most relevant are OSHA’s personal protective equipment standards and the general duty clause. Employers should visit OSHA’s COVID-19 website to review a table of affected federal OSHA standards.
State Standards
There are 28 OSHA-approved State Plans, operating state-wide occupational safety and health programs. State Plans are required to have standards and enforcement programs that are at least as effective as OSHA's, and may have different or more stringent requirements.
Employers affected by an approved OSHA state plan should check with their local OSHA offices for updates on how state-specific standards may be affected by COVID-19.
Control and Prevention
This section addresses measures for protecting workers from exposure to, and infection with, the novel coronavirus, COVID-19. To prevent worker exposure to COVID-19, OSHA recommends that employers adopt infection control strategies based on a thorough hazard assessment, using appropriate combinations of:
Engineering and administrative controls;
Safe work practices; and
Personal protective equipment.
Some OSHA standards that apply to preventing occupational exposure to COVID-19 may also require employers to train workers on elements of infection prevention, including personal protective equipment.