OSHA Covid Penalties Total $3.4M

Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic through Nov. 26, 2020, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued citations arising from 255 inspections for violations relating to coronavirus, resulting in proposed penalties totaling $3,403,139.

OSHA inspections have resulted in the agency citing employers for violations, including failures to:

• Implement a written respiratory protection program;
• Provide a medical evaluation, respirator fit test, training on the proper use of a respirator and personal protective equipment;
• Report an injury, illness or fatality;
• Record an injury or illness on OSHA recordkeeping forms; and
• Comply with the General Duty Clause of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970

OSHA has already announced citations relating to the coronavirus arising out of 244 inspections, according to a press release. In addition to those inspections, the 11 inspections below have resulted in coronavirus-related citations totaling $101,207 from OSHA relating to one or more of the above violations from Nov. 20 to Nov. 26, 2020. 

Resources are available on the agency's COVID-19 webpage to help employers comply with these standards.