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COVID-19 brought a new danger into the workplace. The virus affects people’s health and safety, and when present in confined areas like most office spaces, it spreads quickly. COVID-19-infected workspaces not only put employees’ and customers’ health at risk but also influences business as it halts operations and reduces productivity.
As we deal with the residue of spiked cases from the end of last year and continue to move beyond the initial major outbreak, laws surrounding COVID alter and become more solidified. Will OSHA’s COVID-19 guidelines change in 2023? Here is what you need to know about OSHA’s current COVID health and safety standards for workplaces and potential future implementations.
OSHA Deems COVID-19 a Workplace Risk
When COVID first broke out, OSHA did not issue any specific workplace regulations until mid-2021. Throughout most of 2022, OSHA established emergency temporary standards (ETS). At the beginning of 2023, OSHA deemed COVID-19 an official workplace hazard, just like bloodborne diseases, tripping risks, heat exhaustion, and many other regulated potential workplace dangers.
As COVID joins the official list of workplace risks, OSHA is establishing permanent prevention regulations and best practices to ensure employee health and safety. It is now a permanent, mandatory training standard for OSHA compliance in businesses.
OSHA’s Permanent COVID-19 Guidelines
OSHA’s COVID-19 regulations cover:
- Recordkeeping standards
- Preventative personal protective equipment
- Environmental controls
- Toxic and hazardous substance exposures
OSHA has added COVID-19 risks and practices to its existing recordkeeping rules, bloodborne pathogen safety standards, PPE recommendations, accommodations, training, and general duty clause responsibilities. Other important topics in OSHA’s COVID regulations include vaccine and mask enforcement and distancing recommendations.
Relaxed COVID Regulations
Along with establishing a more solidified COVID-19 health and safety procedure, OSHA is also relaxing many of its ETS protocols. They are reeling back mandated mask-wearing and physical distancing.
Throughout 2023, OSHA plans to continue tweaking their COVID-19 protocols and immersing prevention and safety standards into already existing regulations in their health and safety act. Stay updated and informed on OSHA COVID-19 guideline changes and recent standards with us at Gamma Compliance. We provide relevant and updated OSHA and HIPAA compliance kits that cover all the major requirements your facility needs to know to stay compliant with OSHA and HIPAA.