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 The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued
non-binding guidance recommending that businesses conduct hazard
assessments, adopt policies that do not punish employees who miss
work because they may be infected, and ensure that safety measures
are communicated to non-English speaking workers.
Last week, on his second day in office, President Joe Biden ordered
OSHA to issue new guidance on workplace safety during the pandemic
and to step up enforcement efforts. He also directed OSHA to adopt
temporary emergency rules by March 15 if the agency deems it
necessary.
During the Trump administration, OSHA resisted calls to adopt rules
that would create new legal obligations for employers during the
pandemic. Instead, the agency focused on issuing guidance specific
to certain industries, such as meatpacking plants and healthcare
facilities, which it said was more helpful to businesses and
workers.
Many Democrats and worker advocates have also said that OSHA has
failed to adequately investigate workers' complaints involving
pandemic-related safety issues.
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 Earlier this month, before
Biden took office, OSHA said it had issued about
$3.9 million in fines arising from 300
inspections for safety violations related to the
pandemic.
OSHA on Friday urged employers to adopt policies
protecting workers who raise concerns about
safety from retaliation.
The guidance also further details measures that
OSHA had already recommended for limiting the
spread of COVID-19, such as ensuring infected
people are not in the workplace, enforcing
physical distancing, and improving ventilation.
OSHA said it will update the guidance "as
developments in science, best practices and
standards warrant."
(Reporting by Daniel Wiessner in New York;
Editing by Aurora Ellis)
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