Updated OSHA Guidelines You Should Know in 2022

As part of upholding OSHA compliance, employees are required to renew their training certification each year. Annual renewals refresh people on the proper health and safety standards, ensuring workers stay familiar with regulations and continue to enforce safety practices. They also ensure everyone stays in the loop of the latest OSHA guidelines. Here are three major OSHA guideline updates you should know in 2022.

Extended COVID Regulations

COVID came and changed the world at the start of 2020. Its worldwide takeover sparked new health and safety protocols, from mandated masks to vaccines. Although most of its wrath dissipated over the years, its resisting strains continue to trail a wake of concern. COVID protocols extend into 2022, requiring businesses to follow specific health and safety practices that minimize the risk of spreading and contracting the virus. From mask requirements and recordkeeping to extra sanitization protocols, numerous COVID safety standards continue to change, extend, and affect the way you run your worksite.

Improved Workplace Recordkeeping

Akin to HIPAA, OSHA now advances its recordkeeping standards to electronic submissions. Their minor improvements in recordkeeping allow companies to report injuries and other workplace ailments to OSHA via electronic submission. This year, the digital recordkeeping protocol was amended to enforce workplaces with over 100 workers to send their records electronically to OSHA every year. Other notable updates to this practice include adding your company's name to electronic submissions, the type of forms needed, and submission locations.

Emphasized Heat Protection

Each year, weather forecasts continue to breach temperature records, reaching high and dangerous heat levels. Due to the increase in overheating safety risks, OSHA added indoor heat protection and safety management. Their emphasis on heat protection establishes new protocols aimed at preventing dehydration, heat exhaustion, and other fatal health issues.

OSHA updates are particularly important for any healthcare compliance, like dental OSHA compliance, due to the already high-risk exposure that comes with the job and dentists’ relation to people's health. Staying in the know of the latest updated OSHA guidelines ensures you and your co-workers continue to produce optimal working conditions. New health and safety risks come to light constantly and abruptly, as shown with the fast beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Annual training paired with updated compliance programs ensures you and your staff implement the best practices and keep one another safe.