Safety citations mount for violations related to COVID-19

From the start of the pandemic to mid-January, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued citations arising from 300 workplace inspections for COVID-19-related violations, resulting in proposed penalties totaling just over $4 million. 

Many of the citations were issued to health care facilities for violations of the agency’s respiratory protection standard.

COVID-19-related citations issued as of Jan. 14 included 683 mentions of the respiratory standard, which in part requires medical facilities to provide workers with adequate personal protective equipment. Some facilities were cited for violations of the respiratory standard, with proposed fines in some cases totaling more than $25,000. 

In addition to failing to provide PPE, some facilities were cited for alleged training lapses such as failing to implement written respiratory protection programs and failing to provide a medical evaluation, respirator fit test and training on the proper use of a respirator and other PPE.