OSHA Revises Its COVID-19 Recordkeeping Requirements

Jennifer Zurko

The Occupational Health & Safety Administration (OSHA) is no longer requiring most employers to record COVID-19 cases due to potential difficulty in making determinations about whether workers who contracted COVID-19 did so at work. This new interim guidance applies to employers outside of the healthcare industry, emergency medical, firefighting and law enforcement.

According to OSHA, “Until further notice, OSHA will not enforce its recordkeeping requirements (1904.7) to require employers to make work-related determinations for COVID-19 cases, except where: 1) there is objective evidence when a COVID-19 case may be work-related; and 2) the evidence was reasonably available to the employer.”

This welcome temporary revision helps employers focus response efforts on implementing good workplace hygiene practices. To read OSHA’s interim guidance, go to osha.gov. GT