OSHA Levies Over $1M in COVID-19 Workplace Fines

As of early October, OSHA has levied more than $1.2 million in fines against employers across the country for coronavirus-related violations.

The fines, levied from the start of the pandemic through Oct. 8, were slapped on 85 businesses for violations discovered during OSHA inspections, the agency said.

Among the 85 businesses is a Connecticut nursing care facility that was fined $13,494 for what OSHA described as a serious violation of respiratory protection standards.

The largest fines went to facilities in New Jersey and New York.

The Christian Health Center of Wyckoff, N.J., was fined $23,133 for failing to report the death of a worker in a work-related case within eight hours, and violations of respiratory standards, OSHA said.

A New York firm, Rogosin Institute Inc., of Brooklyn, was also fined $23,133 for not reporting the death of a worker in a work-related case within eight hours, as well as respiratory standards violations, the agency said.

Violations

Several other New York and New Jersey firms were among those facing fines of $22,000 or more.

Among the common violations OSHA inspectors found include failure 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
• Comply with the general duty clause of the OSHA Act of 1970

For more information, contact CBIA’s Phillip Montgomery at 860.244.1982.