Blog Layout

U.S. Department of Labor Considers Employer’s Good Faith Efforts When Enforcing Compliance during Coronavirus Pandemic

Apr 24, 2020

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has caused a significant amount of turmoil across virtually every facet of life in America and around the world. While adjustments and adaptations have become necessary, some things cannot be ignored or overlooked. Employee safety is one of these.

Though workplace conditions may be somewhat different, an employer’s responsibility to provide a safe and healthy work environment remains. Some things may be out of an employer’s control in terms of providing timely safety training and screening. However, OSHA has issued guidelines based on an employer’s good faith efforts to comply with standards even during the pandemic.

If your company undergoes an OSHA inspection, it is critical that you demonstrate that your health and safety managers did everything possible to ensure that OSHA standards were met. According to a recent U.S. Department of Labor news release, companies will be measured based upon the following criteria:
  • The employer explored all options to comply with applicable standards (e.g., use of virtual training or remote communication strategies);
  • The employer implemented interim alternative protections, such as engineering or administrative controls; and
  • The employer rescheduled required annual activity as soon as possible.

Employers unable to comply with OSHA requirements because local authorities required the workplace to close should demonstrate a good faith attempt to meet applicable requirements as soon as possible following the re-opening of the workplace. 

Despite the challenges created by COVID-19, the employee safety remains vitally important, and OSHA will continue to safeguard working conditions. Despite the challenges inherent in a pandemic, they are not viewed as acceptable reasons to overlook employee rights. It is incumbent upon employers to take all possible courses of action to protect employees and meet OSHA’s requirements. 

The OSHA new release can be accessed with the following link, visit https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDOL/bulletins/2870e3f 

OccuFit stands ready to serve employers with on-site testing to ensure your company stays compliant with audiometric and respirator surveillance testing. Contact OccuFit today and let our team work with you to help you take the necessary steps during this unprecedented time.
COVID-19 ANTIBODY SCREEN TEST COVID-19 TEMPERATURE SCREENING

COVID-19 Safety

21 Apr, 2023
OccuFit provides high-volume hearing tests AND keeps participants at a safe distance during COVID-19.

OccuFit Performing Hearing Tests and Keeping Employees at a Safe Distance

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 .

National Hearing Conservation Association issues guidelines for conducting hearing tests during COVID-19

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.
Share by: