OSHA Directs Employers to Follow CDC Mask Update
Kathryn Moody, Construction Dive
Until new guidance is complete, OSHA has directed employers to follow the guidelines set out by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention regarding mask use and social distancing for fully vaccinated workers.
While the OSHA update allowing employers to follow the CDC recommendations relieves some pressure, employers may still be waiting on final guidelines from OSHA to determine their ultimate path forward.
"If OSHA comes out and says, you know, employees have to wear masks, even if they're within 6 feet of each other, even if they're vaccinated, then that's going to really trump whatever the CDC says," Cozen O'Connor Member David Barron told HR Dive last week.
Employers can still voluntarily opt to require social distancing and masks for their workers, according to a May 14 blog post from Morgan Lewis, and can still inquire about vaccination status or request proof of vaccination.