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Some Georgia businesses might believe that Governor Brian Kemp’s April 30 Executive Order that further eliminates many of the COVID-19 safety requirements that were present in past executive orders – including removing the facemask mandate and loosening social distancing requirements – means that you can ease off your COVID-19 protocols at the workplace and your place of business. But doing so could open yourself up to significant liability given the guidance from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) that remains firmly in place. While you should make sure you understand all aspects of the governor’s latest order, you should not rush to eliminate your safety policies anytime soon. What do employers need to know about this order, and what should employers do as they continue to reopen and operate their businesses?
Tuesday, May 4, 2021
In contrast from the past year during which OSHA focused its resources on the healthcare industries, OSHA issued detailed guidance on conducting COVID-19 inspections with the restaurant industry both full-service and limited-service specifically on OSHA’s target list to conduct programmed inspections. This means OSHA can show up unannounced and declare it will be conducting a COVID-19 inspection of a restaurant if that establishment is on the target list generated by the agency.
Restaurants should proactively prepare for on-site OSHA inspections based on this updated guidance and renewed interest on the industry by doing the following:
Review all recording and reporting of occupational injuries and illness practices on the OSHA 300 Injury and Illness Log.
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On April 26, 2021, the Occupational Safety & Health
Administration sent emergency workplace safety rules to prevent the
spread of COVID-19 to the Office of Management and Budget for
review.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020, OSHA has fielded
thousands of complaints related to employee safety in the workplace
and the spread of the virus. Additionally, OSHA has come under fire
for not doing enough to protect healthcare and other frontline
workers from the risk of infection. OSHA has the authority to issue
emergency temporary standards, with immediate effect, if it
As discussed in our recent alert, the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) released a new National Emphasis Program (NEP) and an Update Interim Enforcement.
To embed, copy and paste the code into your website or blog:
On April 26, 2021, the Occupational Safety & Health Administration sent emergency workplace safety rules to prevent the spread of COVID-19 to the Office of Management and Budget for review.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020, OSHA has fielded thousands of complaints related to employee safety in the workplace and the spread of the virus. Additionally, OSHA has come under fire for not doing enough to protect healthcare and other frontline workers from the risk of infection. OSHA has the authority to issue emergency temporary standards, with immediate effect, if it determines U.S. workers are in “grave danger” due to exposure to a new hazard and such standard is necessary to protect employees from the danger. Nevertheless, the prior administration declined to enact emergency regulations, stating the agency could protect workers against the risks of COVID-19 through its existing standards.