Las Vegas, NV February 13, 2020
The
Division of Industrial Relations Occupational Safety and Health Administration
(OSHA) and Safety Consultation and Training Section (SCATS) are urging
businesses to assess the risk to and protect workers from exposure to the 2019
Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV). For most people in the United States, including
most types of workers, the current risk of infection with 2019-nCoV is low
according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Employees working in industries that interact with potentially infected
travelers from abroad including health care, laboratories, airline operations,
and solid waste and wastewater management are at an increased risk for
exposure.
“Employers
may create a plan for potential exposure incidents and take appropriate actions
to protect their workers following U.S. Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention guidelines,” said Jess Lankford, Nevada OSHA Chief Administrative
Officer. The CDC is closely monitoring suspected cases of coronavirus infection
and transmission. Employers should monitor the latest reports for the
most recent information and guidance on the CDC website: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html.
Nevada
OSHA recommends that all employers provide information and training to workers
about signs and symptoms of an infection, how the virus is transmitted and
encourage employees to practice proper handwashing techniques and avoid close
contact with people who are sick. Employers and workers in industries where
there is no specific exposure hazard should remain aware of the evolving
situation and become familiar with additional precautions that may be warranted
should changes in outbreak conditions occur.
In
addition, employers in industries with a higher potential occupational exposure
should identify and train employees about tasks and activities that may lead to
exposure as well as methods (and limitations of those methods) to prevent or
reduce exposure including engineering and administrative controls, safe work
practices and the use of respiratory and personal protective equipment. In all
workplaces where exposure may occur, training should also include information
about how to isolate individuals with suspected or confirmed 2019-nCoV or other
infectious diseases, and how to report possible cases. Comprehensive guidance
for specific occupations and their employers can be found on the U.S.
Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration website at: https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/novel_coronavirus/index.html.
Todd
Schultz, SCATS Chief Administrative Officer stated, “Employee training on the
coronavirus is vital, especially in high risk jobs. Hospital and
laboratory workers are at highest risk, but we must not forget other workers
like hotel employees, housekeeping workers and airline and airport workers also face a higher risk of
exposure. It is important to make time to review your workplace
health and safety plans. The CDC and federal OSHA websites serve as essential
resources that can assist you as you update your plan.”
About Nevada
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Nevada OSHA, part of Nevada’s
Division of Industrial Relations, operates as an approved state program as
defined by section 18 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 and is
required by the Act to operate in a manner that is at least as effective as the
federal OSHA enforcement program. Operating out of district offices in
Las Vegas and Reno, Nevada OSHA conducts inspections and investigations
intended to identify hazardous conditions which could harm Nevada’s workers and
enforces state and federal laws protecting the state’s workers. From July 2018
– June 2019, Nevada OSHA conducted over 1,060 inspections, issuing an average
of 1.4 serious violations per inspection. For more information visit http://dir.nv.gov/OSHA/home.
The Nevada State Plan, at the
time of publication of this media release, is funded by a grant of $1,486,600
federal funds, which constitutes 50% of the State Plan budget. Fifty percent,
or $1,486,600 of the State Plan budget, is financed through non-governmental
sources.
About Nevada Safety
Consultation and Training Section (SCATS)
The Safety Consultation and
Training Section (SCATS), part of Nevada Division of Industrial Relations,
provides free and confidential consultation and safety services to assist
businesses in Nevada to be in compliance with OSHA standards. SCATS’ top
priority is to help Nevada businesses keep their employees safe and offers
on-site consultation services designed to help employers recognize and control
potential safety and health hazards at their workplaces, improve their safety
and health programs, and assist in training employees. SCATS also offers
Workplace Safety and Health Training classes in Northern and Southern Nevada.
Bilingual services are also available. For more information visit: http://www.4safenv.state.nv.us/.
At the time of initial
publication of this press release, the Nevada on-site consultation program is
funded by a cooperative agreement for $625,200 in federal funds, or 27.7% of
the program budget. No program funding is received from non-governmental
sources
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