OSHA Inspections in a Time of COVID-19
Jonathan H. Schaefer and Megan E. Baroni, Construction Executive
There are a number of best practices that an employer may wish to follow when faced with any Occupational Safety and Health Administration inspection, including:
- determining the reason for the inspection;
- obtaining a copy of the complaint;
- designating an employee representative;
- accompanying the inspector on the visit;
- documenting the inspector’s findings;
- providing requested documents; and
- being prepared for follow-up.
But how are these best practices complicated by a global pandemic? Over the past year, COVID-19 has brought changes to construction workplaces and to OSHA’s inspection and enforcement focus. The construction industry has kept moving in the face of these challenges, but COVID-19 has and will continue to impact workplaces, and workplace procedures, into the future.
As its COVID-related Updated Interim Enforcement Response Plan and National Emphasis Program (NEP) make clear, OSHA is continuing to conduct in-person investigations during the pandemic.