In response to thousands of complaints, OSHA presented its approach to handling workplace safety on Monday, April 13. Accordingly, OSHA will be prioritizing healthcare employees amidst this COVID-19 crisis. The Department of Labor agency encountered swift retaliation when this update reached essential workers outside of healthcare. Their concern: OSHA affirmed its negligence to public needs and safety in publishing work that excludes essential workers.
This news broke in perfect timing as meat packaging plants in South Dakota discovered numerous employee infections. Employees working in those industries report physical social distancing is difficult, if not impossible. Furthermore, as supply chain disruptions persist, access to personal protective equipment (PPE) is decreasing for the 72 percent of essential workers not in the medical field. During these times, it is important to recognize the interconnectivity and reliance of all entities in the economy as this circumstance is a major issue OSHA now confronts.
In a response to the April 13 statement, former OSHA oversight Ed Foulke attested, “OSHA clearly cares [about non-medical workers]. [However] an inspector can’t be sent out for every complaint.” The resources to do so are constrained. Considering the agency’s decline in authority in the past few years and now, in handling COVID-19, OSHA only posted recommendations. While typically unenforced, compliance can mitigate viral circulation. No employee should have to make the tough decision between health and work, the two are codependent.
This is where American Medical Compliance steps in.
Employers that exhibit efforts to assure the health and safety of its employees are more likely to retain their workforce and sustain safe operations. Visit the page below to see how American Medical Compliance can help your organization meet OSHA standards and COVID-19 recommendations.
Referenced article:
Grabell, M., Yeung, B., & Jameel, M. (2020, April 16). Millions of essential workers are being left out of COVID-19… Propublica. Retrieved from https://www.propublica.org/article/millions-of-essential-workers-are-being-left-out-of-covid-19-workplace-safety-protections-thanks-to-osha
