OSHA Reverses Guidance; Employers Must Record COVID-19 Cases

In a memorandum issued on May 19, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced it would override its April 10 guidance and now require employers to record COVID-19 cases. OSHA also stated it would increase workplace inspections. It has instructed compliance officers to use the following considerations when determining whether or not an employer has complied with the newly revised policy:

• The reasonableness of the employer’s investigation into whether the COVID-19 case was work-related
• The evidence available to the employer
• The evidence that COVID-19 was contracted at work

The agency provides scenarios of “certain types of evidence” to determine whether COVID-19 cases are likely work-related. You can read more from the National Safety Council.