Employers Reconfiguring for COVID-19 Should Continue to Make Safety a Top Priority

Employers around the country are coming up with creative ways to adjust for COVID-19, and in many cases that means adding tasks to essential workers’ plates so businesses can keep operating even with a skeleton staff. In an interview with Bloomberg Law, Travis Vance explained that this type of reconfiguring could mean that workers are doing tasks that they wouldn’t otherwise complete as part of their regular duties, and this may trigger workplace safety concerns. Travis noted that “[if] the worker is using ‘some kind of chemical or sanitizing agent, the employee may need to be trained under HazCom and PPE standards – a lot of those issues are coming up.’”

The article explains that even during difficult times like a pandemic when employers have a reduced staff, it is incumbent upon the employer to comply with OSHA and ensure that employees doing “non-typical tasks” receive the same information and training as required under normal circumstances.

To read the article, visit Bloomberg Law.