OSHA Releases COVID-19 Guidance for the Construction Workforce
By As we have all witnessed, the COVID-19 situation remains incredibly fluid and presents unique challenges to the construction industry, which has been deemed an essential business in the Carolinas. On April 21, 2020, OSHA issued an alert containing COVID-19 safety guidance that is specifically directed to the construction industry. A copy of the one page OSHA alert can be viewed here: https://www.osha.gov/Publications/OSHA4000.pdf.
It is imperative that construction professionals review the OSHA guidance and ensure that they are taking all necessary steps to comply. This is important not only for protecting the health and safety of construction workers and the general public, but also for avoiding a possible OSHA violation for failure to adhere to its COVID-19 safety guidance. As many in the industry know, OSHA’s General Duty clause is very broadly enforced. Though current supply shortages of PPE and various cleaning materials present obstacles to compliance, construction professionals should do their best to follow the OSHA guidance by using the resources they have available. As an additional step, we recommend that construction professionals print out and post the linked OSHA guidance at their jobsites and office locations as a visual reminder to their workers of the steps necessary to keep themselves and the general public safe.