OSHA Now Requires Builders to Track COVID-19 Cases, Many Exempt

In a reversal of its previous requirements, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced that builders subject to its record-keeping requirements must begin tracking work-related coronavirus cases on OSHA injury and illness logs, according to NAHB. Many builders will be exempt from most of the new requirements due to their size, but those who are exempt are still required to investigate if a positive case came from the workplace and report any deaths or specific injuries or hospitalizations. Those who must follow the new guidance will determine if a sickness is COVID-19, if it was transmitted on the job, and if it results in death, days away from work, restricted work or transfer, or medical treatment beyond first aid. Learn more about the new requirements at NAHB.

The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration this week announced a significant reversal of previous policy on an employer’s obligation to record work-related cases of COVID-19 on OSHA injury and illness logs. The new requirements go into effect Tuesday, May 26.

As with the previous guidance, OSHA acknowledged that it will be difficult to establish that a particular COVID-19 case is “work-related.” But the new guidance does place additional obligations on most employers to conduct an investigation and to make a reasonable determination as to whether the illness was transmitted on the job.

It should be noted that the new guidance applies only to employers currently subject to OSHA’s recordkeeping requirements. Due to employee size limitations, many home builders are exempt from most of the new requirements.

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