OSHA taking ‘time’ on emergency COVID-19 standard

A Monday deadline passed without the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration delivering details of an expected emergency temporary standard for COVID-19 workplace safety, as it had been directed to do under an executive order.

An OSHA spokeswoman on Tuesday reiterated a statement made Friday — upon OSHA’s announcement that it would be targeting specific industries for COVID-19 safety compliance — that the agency would be “taking the time to get this right.”

President Joe Biden on Jan. 21 signed an executive order calling on OSHA to issue an emergency temporary standard if “determined to be necessary,” among other safety guidelines. Such emergency standards have already been put in place in California, Michigan, Oregon and Virginia.

Following up on the executive order, on Jan. 29 OSHA issued workplace safety guidance for employers, borrowing much from the already-existing Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines that call for masks and social distancing in the workplace.  

When questioned on the approaching deadline, a White House spokeswoman said Monday in a media briefing that “OSHA has been working diligently, but we, of course, believe they should have the time to get it right and time to ensure it’s right, and so we’re waiting for them to make a conclusion.”

More insurance and workers compensation news on the coronavirus crisis here.