OSHA’s General Duty Clause
OSHA’s General Duty Clause allows citation of employers who do not properly protect employees from coronavirus disease exposure. The clause states that employers must provide places of employment “which are free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to his employees…” With the ongoing pandemic, Covid Non-compliance could put your facility at risk of receiving a General Duty Clause Citation.
Failure to provide Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), such as nitrile gloves or N-95 face masks are violations of this clause. At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, PPE was virtually impossible to locate, and now that suppliers have kicked PPE production into high gear, supplies are once again available.
There are a few ways a General Duty Clause citation can be issued. If workers were not distanced at least 6 feet apart in the processing areas is an example of covid non-compliance. Failure to ensure workers wore a face mask while in the facility could also lead to citation. Another citation could be for no installation of plexiglass or other barriers between workers. The General Duty Clause requires employers to ensure their workplace is free from all recognized hazards.
OSHA Compliance in other States
Facilities located in California must also follow the Cal-OSHA, Aerosol Transmissible Disease (ATD) standard. This requires proper respiratory protection in healthcare settings. Although there is currently no corresponding federal OSHA standard, if the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions Act (HEROES) is passed into law, one of its sections includes the creation of a new “Infectious Disease” OSHA standard. The HEROES Act would require all facilities to prepare an Infectious Disease Plan.
In addition to California, Governors in other OSHA-State Plan States, such as Michigan, Nevada, and Oregon, have instructed state workplace safety and health agencies to monitor employer compliance with the orders aimed to prevent surges in infections.
If you have questions on how to remain compliant with existing OSHA standards, or need more information on the Infectious Disease standard, please contact Mostardi Platt here, or reach out directly to David Osadjan.
David Osadjan
630-993-2145 | dosadjan@mp-mail.com
Mostardi Platt
888 Industrial Drive
Elmhurst, IL 60126