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OSHA continues to conduct investigations for non-COVID-19 complaints

Travis Flenniken • May 20, 2020

OSHA's top priority is COVID-19, but "its work continues uninterrupted”...conducted 4,575 non-COVID-19 investigations since February. 

U.S. Department of Labor released quotes from written testimony from postponed OSHA hearing on May 20, 2020. Principal Deputy Assistant Loren Sweatt of OSHA was scheduled to testify at the House of Representatives Education and Labor Committee hearing this morning, but the hearing was postponed at last minute. 

In the Deputy Assistant Secretary's testimony, the following was written, "The work of the agency continues uninterrupted even as we respond to this pandemic. Since February 1, 2020, and through May 14, 2020, OSHA has received 5,500 non-COVID-19 complaints and conducted 4,575 investigations based on these complaints. During this time, OSHA has received 2,290 non-COVID-19 whistleblower complaints, which are being evaluated along with the COVID-19 whistleblower complaints”.

Inspections reached a 3-year high in 2019, as Ms. Sweat also wrote, “During Fiscal Year (FY) 2019, OSHA conducted 33,401 inspections—more inspections than in each of the previous three fiscal years.”

The news release can be found here.

Despite the extra precautions and procedures required for COVID-19, health and safety managers must maintain OSHA regulations. This includes making a good-faith effort to complete annual hearing tests for those with a hearing conservation program. 



21 Apr, 2023
OccuFit provides high-volume hearing tests AND keeps participants at a safe distance during COVID-19.
19 Nov, 2020
Because OccuFit utilizes individual sound booths in its testing units, up to 8 employees can be tested at one time without coming in close contact with each other. At full capacity, OccuFit can test over 400 employees per day and keep everyone at a safe distance, complying with CDC guidelines. To watch how this is done, click the link to watch the video .
07 Jul, 2020
NHCA initiated a Task Force for developing guidance to safely conduct hearing testing during the COVID-19 pandemic. The intent of this document is to provide a “Best Practices” guidance to Hearing Testing Professionals to help minimize their risk of SARS CoV-2 infection through person-to-person spread within occupational health clinics, company in-house testing and mobile test environments. Among other topics such as PPE and screening, the document addresses social distancing on mobile testing units. It states the following: - Mobile unit testing multiple employees within a single test booth: a. Social distancing may not be possible but reducing the number of individuals tested at one time should be practiced i. Consider testing ≤ 50% of test booth capacity ii. Consider spacing employees in an alternate or zig-zag layout and not physically opposite each other iii. Dividers, curtains or protective screens are recommended between employees next to and opposite each other iv. Require employees to wear face cloth covering v. Monitor employees for coughing or sneezing vi. If any employee starts coughing or sneezing, all employees must be immediately removed, and the test area disinfected THIS IS NOT AN ISSUE WITH OCCUFIT BECAUSE WE USE INDIVIDUAL SOUND BOOTHS WHICH ALLOWS FOR SOCIAL DISTANCING DURING THE ENTIRE TEST. This helpful document can be found here.
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