Update 04/2020 -COVID-19 as an OSHA Recordable Illness

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, adjustments are being made by everyone, and that even includes Federal OSHA. As we previously shared, OSHA had determined that some COVID-19 cases are recordable illnesses which must be entered on an employer’s OSHA 300 log. They have once again provided some clarification on this requirement, which reduces that burden on most employers. On April 10, 2020, OSHA issued a new memo addressing their current stance, excerpt below:

Employers of workers in the healthcare industry, emergency response organizations (e.g., emergency medical, firefighting, and law enforcement services), and correctional institutions must continue to make work-relatedness determinations pursuant to 29 CFR § 1904. Until further notice, however, OSHA will not enforce 29 CFR § 1904 to require other employers to make the same work-relatedness determinations, except where:

1. There is objective evidence that a COVID-19 case may be work-related. This could include, for example, a number of cases developing among workers who work closely together without an alternative explanation; and
2. The evidence was reasonably available to the employer. For purposes of this memorandum, examples of reasonably available evidence include information given to the employer by employees, as well as information that an employer learns regarding its employees’ health and safety in the ordinary course of managing its business and employees.

This clarification from Federal OSHA should simplify the OSHA 300 log recordkeeping process during this pandemic for most employers. Below is a link to the full memo from OSHA, as well as additional resources to assist with preventing infection with COVID-19.

OSHA & CDC Resources

Federal OSHA Enforcement Memo:
https://www.osha.gov/memos/2020-04-10/enforcement-guidance-recording-cases-coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19

Summary of OSHA standards applicable to COVID-19, including the requirement to record these illnesses on the OSHA 300 log:
https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/covid-19/standards.html

Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19
https://www.osha.gov/Publications/OSHA3990.pdf

CDC’s homepage for COVID-19
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html

For assistance or information regarding other impacts this pandemic may have on your business, contact your Parker, Smith & Feek account team.

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