OSHA levies more than $1.6M in fines for COVID-19 violations
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The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited more than 100 companies with proposed penalties totaling more than $1.6 million for COVID-19 violations, the agency announced Friday.
Since the start of the pandemic through Oct. 15, 2020, the agency said it has fined companies for failure to implement written respiratory protection programs and properly train worker on the use of respiratory devices, failure to report or record injuries, illnesses or fatalities and failure to comply with the Occupational Safety and Health Act’s general duty clause.
The agency has been criticized by labor unions and lawmakers for its response to the pandemic and its handling of COVID-19 whistleblower complaints.
The most recent 27 citations, issued in the second week of October, join the additional 85 the agency levied against employers from the COVID-19 lockdowns through Oct. 8. These most recent citations were mostly made against health care employers in Connecticut, New Jersey and New York.
More insurance and workers compensation news on the coronavirus crisis here.
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