Division of Industrial Relations announces findings from initial and follow up observations

Compliance checks conducted by Division of Industrial Relations officials continued this week. During follow up visits conducted on Thursday, Nevada OSHA officials found that 100 percent of the 18 businesses visited are now in compliance with required health and safety measures to slow community spread of COVID-19.  

A total of 74 follow up visits have been conducted. Only six of those businesses were still observed to be in noncompliance. Investigations are being opened at each of those locations which may lead to the issuance of a citation upon completion of the investigation.  Follow up compliance visits will continue next week in locations where large numbers of people congregate for longer periods of time and establishments where initial compliance was low.

Officials also conducted an additional 187 initial observations on July 9 and 10 at large and small establishments and retailers with a focus on restaurants, general retail and aquatic facilities. Visits were also conducted at grocery stores, convenience stores, hair and nail salons, clothing stores and financial institutions. Findings of these initial visits include:

• Overall compliance, 187 observations: 87 percent statewide, 88 percent in the north and 87 percent in the south
• Restaurants, 92 observations: 85 percent compliance
• General retail, 38 observations: 90 percent compliance
• Convenience stores, 9 observations: 89 percent compliance
• Pools, 8 observations: 75 percent compliance
• Grocery stores, 7 observations: 100 percent compliance
• Water park, 1 observation: not in compliance
• All other business types, 32 observations: 94 percent compliance

Since the initial observations began, 1,751 businesses have been surveyed showing 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 concerns. 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.

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.

¹Business types with 6 or fewer initial visits are included in the other category 

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.

###