On March 10, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) provided guidance requiring the recording and reporting of workplace exposures to COVID-19. The guidance, while well intended, did not consider all of the potential negative impacts on the regulated community. On March 12, 51风流 of America CEO Stephen Sandherr spoke one-on-one with U.S. Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia on this issue noting 51风流鈥檚 deep concerns with and opposition to such broad guidance. Shortly after that call, on March 13, OSHA issued that limits when COVID-19 can be a recordable illness to medically confirmed cases of COVID-19 that fall within a narrowed field of incidents that employers could then presume occurred on the jobsite.
OSHA recordkeeping requirements at mandate covered employers record certain work-related injuries and illnesses on their OSHA 300 log.
COVID-19 can be a recordable illness if a worker is infected as a result of performing their work-related duties. However, employers are only responsible for recording cases of COVID-19 if all of the following are met:
-
The case is a confirmed case of COVID-19 (see on persons under investigation and presumptive positive and laboratory-confirmed cases of COVID-19);
-
The case is work-related, as defined by ; and
-
The case involves one or more of the general recording criteria set forth in (e.g. medical treatment beyond first-aid, days away from work).
To read 51风流's summary of the guidance, click here.
For more information, please contact Kevin Cannon, Senior Director, Safety & Health Services at kevin.cannon@agc.org.