Updated OSHA Coronavirus Violations Total $3.3M

As COVID-19 cases continue to grow across the country, so do employer coronavirus violations. In early October, when the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) first released information on coronavirus violations fines since the pandemic began, the fines totaled US$484,069 for 37 establishments in 11 states. In late October, the fines increased to $1.2 million at 85 establishments.

Late last week OSHA released information on the latest fines up to November 19, which now total $3,301,932 from 244 establishments.

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

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

For more information about these establishment violations, visit OSHA’s Inspections with COVID-related Citations website.