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This page provides detailed COVID-19 information, regulations and guidance on OSHA standards and directives (instructions for compliance officers) and other related information that may apply to worker exposure to the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, that causes Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).
The Vaccination and Testing ETS was officially filed in the Office of the Federal Register on November 4, 2021, and it became effective when it was published on November 5, 2021.
The Healthcare ETS was officially filed in the Office of the Federal Register on June 17, 2021, and it became effective when it was published on June 21, 2021
OSHA requirements apply to preventing occupational exposure to SARS-CoV-2. Among the most relevant are:
OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogens standard (29 CFR 1910.1030) applies to occupational exposure to human blood and other potentially infectious materials that typically do not include respiratory secretions that may contain SARS-CoV-2 (unless visible blood is present). However, the provisions of the standard offer a framework that may help control some sources of the virus, including exposures to body fluids (e.g., respiratory secretions) not covered by the standard.
There are 28 OSHA-approved State Plans, operating statewide occupational safety and health programs. State Plans are required to have standards and enforcement programs that are at least as effective as OSHA's and may have different or more stringent requirements.
The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) Aerosol Transmissible Diseases (ATD) standard is aimed at preventing worker illness from infectious diseases that can be transmitted by inhaling air that contains viruses (including SARS-CoV-2), bacteria or other disease-causing organisms. While the Cal/OSHA ATD standard is only mandatory for certain healthcare employers in California, it may provide useful guidance for protecting other workers exposed to SARS-CoV-2.
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 (in general industry, 29 CFR 1910.1200), Personal Protective Equipment standards (in general industry, 29 CFR 1910 Subpart I, and, in construction, 29 CFR 1926 Subpart E), and other applicable OSHA chemical standards. OSHA provides information about hazardous chemicals used in hospitals in the Housekeeping section of its Hospital eTool.
Recording workplace exposures to COVID-19
OSHA recordkeeping requirements mandate covered employers record certain work-related injuries and illnesses on their OSHA 300 log (29 CFR Part 1904).
COVID-19 can be a recordable illness if a worker is infected as a result of performing their work-related duties. However, employers are only responsible for recording cases of COVID-19 if all of the following are true:
Employers should follow the OSHA enforcement guidance found in the Updated Interim Enforcement Response Plan for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Visit OSHA's Injury and Illness Recordkeeping and Reporting Requirements page for more information.
Depending on the specific work task, setting, exposure to other biological or chemical agents, or retaliatory action taken against employees (See 29 CFR 1904.35(b)(1)(iv)), additional OSHA requirements that may apply include:
Recordkeeping and Reporting Occupational Injuries and Illness (29 CFR 1904) |
Related Information |
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29 CFR 1904 – Recording and Reporting Occupational Injuries and Illness |
General Industry (29 CFR 1910) |
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1910 Subpart I – Personal Protective Equipment | ||
1910.132, General requirements | ||
1910.133, Eye and face protection | ||
1910.134, Respiratory protection | ||
1910.138, Hand protection | ||
Subpart J – General Environmental Controls | 1910.141, Sanitation | |
1910.142, Temporary labor camps | ||
Subpart U – COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standard | 1910.501, Vaccination, testing, and face coverings | |
1910.502, Healthcare | ||
1910.504, Mini respiratory protection program | ||
1910.505, Severability | ||
1910.509, Incorporation by Reference | ||
Subpart Z – Toxic and Hazardous Substances | ||
1910.1020, Access to employee exposure and medical records | ||
1910.1030, Bloodborne pathogens | ||
1910.1200, Hazard communication | ||
1910.1450, Occupational exposure to hazardous chemicals in laboratories |
Maritime (29 CFR 1915, 1917, 1918) |
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1915 Subpart Z – Toxic and Hazardous Substances | 1915.1501, COVID-19 | |
1917 Subpart B – Marine Terminal Operations | 1917.31, COVID-19 | |
1918 Subpart K – COVID-19 | 1918.110, COVID-19 |
Construction (29 CFR 1926) |
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Subpart C – General Safety and Health Provisions | 1926.33, Access to employee exposure and medical records | |
1926.58, COVID-19 | ||
Subpart D – Occupational Health and Environmental Controls | 1926.51, Sanitation | |
Subpart E – Personal Protective Equipment and Life Saving Equipment | 1926.95, Criteria for personal protective equipment | |
1926.102, Eye and face protection | ||
1926.103, Respiratory protection |
Agriculture (29 CFR 1928) |
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Subpart B – Applicability of Standards |
1928.21, Applicable standards in 29 CFR part 1910 |
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Subpart I – General Environmental Controls |
1928.110, Field sanitation |
Federal Agencies (29 CFR 1960) |
Related Information |
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29 CFR 1960 – Basic Program Elements for Federal Employee Occupational Safety and Health Programs and Related Matters |
For additional information, review OSHA's COVID-19 Healthcare ETS page.
Section 11(c) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, 29 USC 660(c), prohibits employers from retaliating against employees for exercising a variety of rights guaranteed under the OSH Act, such as filing a safety or health complaint with OSHA, raising a health and safety concern with their employers, participating in an OSHA inspection, or reporting a work-related injury or illness. Additionally, OSHA's Whistleblower Protection Program enforces the provisions of more than 20 industry-specific federal laws protecting employees from retaliation for raising or reporting concerns about hazards or violations of various airline, commercial motor carrier, consumer product, environmental, financial reform, food safety, health insurance reform, motor vehicle safety, nuclear, pipeline, public transportation agency, railroad, maritime, securities, and tax laws. OSHA encourages workers who suffer such retaliation to submit a complaint to OSHA as soon as possible in order to file their complaint within the legal time limits, some of which may be as short as 30 days from the date they learned of or experienced retaliation. An employee can file a complaint with OSHA by visiting or calling his or her local OSHA office; sending a written complaint via fax, mail, or email to the closest OSHA office; or filing a complaint online. No particular form is required and complaints may be submitted in any language.
OSHA provides recommendations intended to assist employers in creating workplaces that are free of retaliation and guidance to employers on how to properly respond to workers who may complain about workplace hazards or potential violations of federal laws. OSHA urges employers to review its publication: Recommended Practices for Anti-Retaliation Programs (OSHA 3905 - 01/2017).