Division of Industrial Relations announces citations, industry-level compliance rates with COVID-19 health and safety requirements

Today, the Division of Industrial Relations has announced that ongoing violation of required health and safety measures has resulted in Nevada OSHA issuing notices of citation and penalty to the following businesses: 

In addition to the citation, a notice was provided to each business indicating that in the event of future noncompliance, the Administrator may issue an order requiring the business to cease all activity at that location during this state of emergency under NRS 618.545(1) until the business has established and implemented operating procedures to comply with the requirements.

The citations were issued after officials observed noncompliance with one or more requirements of general and industry-specific guidance and directives during both the initial observation and a follow up visit. Employers were provided a notice and a request for compliance during the first visit. Upon observation of ongoing noncompliance during a follow up visit, a formal investigation was opened with the employer.

Follow up visits have been conducted at 192 businesses where Nevada OSHA officials found that 93 percent of those locations are now in compliance.

Since initial observations to determine compliance with mandated health and safety measures began, Division of Industrial Relations officials have visited 2,257 business establishments in northern and southern Nevada. As of July 15, the overall compliance rate for all business sectors statewide stood at 82 percent, with an 86 percent compliance rate in northern Nevada, and 80 percent in the south.

A wide range of business establishments have been visited including large and small retail, financial institutions, gaming, gyms, bars and restaurants, convenience stores, pharmacies and automobile sales and service. Initial visits include checks for compliance with all published directives and guidance, including industry-specific guidance issued under the Nevada United: Roadmap to Recovery plan.

Businesses with the lowest rates of compliance include: 

• Water parks, 5 observations: 40 percent compliance 
• Casino-hotel pools, 28 observations: 54 percent compliance 
• Bars and restaurant lounges, 303 observations: 59 percent compliance
• Home improvement, 40 observations: 68 percent compliance
• Pools, 12 observations: 75 percent compliance 

Information about general and industry-specific guidance can be found on the Nevada Health Response website, https://NVHealthResponse.nv.gov/ and the Division of Industrial Relations website, http://dir.nv.gov/.

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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