OSHA Standards

There is no specific OSHA standard covering COVID-19. However, some OSHA requirements may apply to preventing occupational exposure to COVID-19.

Among the most relevant are:

• OSHA personal protective equipment standards, which require using gloves, eye and face protection, and respiratory protection
• When respirators are necessary to protect workers, employers must implement a comprehensive respiratory protection program
• OSHA’s bloodborne pathogens standard applies to occupational exposure to human blood and other potentially infectious materials that typically do not include respiratory secretions that may transmit COVID-19.

Employers must also protect their workers from exposure to hazardous chemicals used for cleaning and disinfection.

Employers should be aware that common sanitizers and sterilizers could contain hazardous chemicals.

Where workers are exposed to hazardous chemicals, employers must comply with OSHA’s hazard communication standard, personal protective equipment standards, and other applicable OSHA chemical standards.

Recordkeeping

OSHA recordkeeping requirements mandate covered employers record certain work-related injuries and illnesses on their OSHA 300 log.

 COVID-19 is a recordable illness when a worker is infected on the job.