August 13, 2021
OSHA Updates COVID-19 Workplace Guidance
On August 13th, OSHA updated its “Protecting Workers: Guidance on Mitigating and Preventing the Spread of COVID-19 in the Workplace.” The update reflects CDC’s “Interim Public Health Recommendations for Fully Vaccinated People” published on July 27th.
OSHA explains its purpose is to, “…help employers protect workers who are unvaccinated (including people who are not fully vaccinated) or otherwise at-risk (as defined in the text box below), including if they are immunocompromised, and also implement new guidance involving workers who are fully vaccinated but located in areas of substantial or high community transmission. ”
OSHA’s step may now give employers more impetus to give these recommendations due consideration for implementation. Doing so may avoid or help defend any claims of failing to follow OSHA’s general duty clause in providing a safe workplace – a duty the CDC does not have the authority to enforce.”
For more information and a summary of some highlights of the CDC’s recommendations, click here.
