OSHA Updates Guidance on Preventing the Spread of COVID-19 in the Workplace
OSHA has issued updated guidance to help employers and workers in non-healthcare-related industries protect workers who are still not vaccinated, with a special emphasis on industries noted for prolonged close-contacts like meat processing, manufacturing, seafood and grocery, and high-volume retail.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) “Interim Public Health Recommendations for Fully Vaccinated People” explain that under most circumstances, fully vaccinated people need not take all the precautions that unvaccinated people should take. For example, the CDC advises that most fully vaccinated people can resume activities without wearing masks or physically distancing, except where required by federal, state and local laws, including local business and workplace guidance. People are considered fully vaccinated for COVID-19 two weeks or more after they have completed their final dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
In accordance with the CDC’s recommendations, OSHA has stated, that unless otherwise required by law, most employers no longer need to take steps to protect their fully vaccinated workers who are not otherwise at-risk from COVID-19 exposure. That being said, the agency has published specific steps that employers should take to protect vulnerable “at-risk” workers.
Per OSHA, “The recommendations are advisory in nature and informational in content, and are intended to assist employers in providing a safe and healthful workplace free from recognized hazards that are causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm.”
For more information and to review OSHA’s updated COVID-19 recommendations, visit: www.osha.gov/coronavirus/safework.
