Las Vegas, NV July 14, 2020
During follow
up visits conducted July 13, Nevada OSHA officials found that 88 percent of the
73 businesses visited are now in compliance with required health and safety
measures to slow community spread of COVID-19. A total of 147 follow up visits
have been conducted. Officials opened a formal investigation at locations where
ongoing noncompliance was observed. As a result, nine citations are being
considered, eight in northern Nevada and one in southern Nevada. A list of
businesses issued citations will be provided by the division as the
investigations are formally closed. Division of
Industrial Relations officials also conducted 46 initial observations on Monday
with a focus on aquatic facilities, restaurants and gyms. Overall compliance
for July 13 was 87 percent statewide, 90 percent in southern Nevada, and 85
percent in northern Nevada. Findings of these initial visits include:
- Gyms,
18 observations: 83 percent compliance
- Restaurants,
12 observations: 92 percent compliance
- Casino/hotel
pools, 5 observations: 100 percent compliance
- Other
pools, 4 observations: 75 percent compliance
- Water
park, 1 observation: 100 percent compliance
- Automobile
sales/service, 1 observation: not in compliance
- Other
establishments, 5 observations: 100 percent compliance
Since the
initial observations began, 1,797 businesses have been surveyed with a
cumulative statewide compliance rate of 80 percent, 86 percent compliance in
northern Nevada and 74 percent compliance in southern Nevada. Cumulative
statewide compliance over the period has moved between a low of 77 percent and
high of 85 percent.
In addition to
the field observation process, Nevada OSHA continues respond to complaints and
referrals regarding face coverings, social distancing, cleaning and
disinfection, and other areas of concern related to COVID-19 received by their
offices. Nearly 1,300 complaints have been received since mid-March. The
majority of these complaints have been resolved through an employer inquiry and
response process. In instances where the inquiry process does not provide a
satisfactory response or resolution of the complaint, an investigation is
opened. A notice of citation and penalty is issued to the business if a
violation is found as a result of the investigation.
Since
mid-March, Nevada OSHA has issued 98 citations resulting from investigations
into COVID-19 related workplace safety complaints received by their offices. Of
those, 44 citations have been issued to businesses located in Reno with an
average penalty amount of $4,390. Fifty-four citations have been issued
to businesses located in Las Vegas with an average penalty amount of $5,880.
Workplace
safety concerns can be filed online with Nevada OSHA at https://www.osha.gov/pls/osha7/eComplaintForm.html.
The Division’s
Safety Consultation and Training Section (SCATS) also offers free consultations
to businesses to help them understand and implement the requirements in order
to comply with the health and safety guidance and directives for all
businesses, and specific requirements for each industry. SCATS can be reached
by calling 1-877-4SAFENV.
About
the Division of Industrial Relations:
The
Nevada Division of Industrial Relations (DIR) is the principal regulatory
agency responsible for workplace safety and worker protections in the state of
Nevada. Comprised of five sections –Occupational Safety and Health
Administration, Workers’ Compensation Section, Mechanical Compliance Section,
Mine Safety and Training Section, and the Safety Consultation and Training Section
– DIR works to protect Nevada’s working men and women and provides a broad
scope of training and support to the regulated community. For more
information please visit http://dir.nv.gov.
About
Nevada OSHA:
Nevada
OSHA 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 to June 2019, Nevada
OSHA conducted over 1,060 inspections, issuing an average of 1.4 serious
violations per inspection. 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 percent of the State Plan budget. Fifty percent, or $1,486,600
of the State Plan budget, is financed through non-governmental sources. For
more information visit http://dir.nv.gov/OSHA/home.
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