Las Vegas, NV November 23, 2020
In
response to the elevated community spread of COVID-19, the Division of
Industrial Relations will focus compliance activities over the next few weeks
in communities with the highest reported cases per 100,000, including Carson
City, Churchill, Washoe and Elko Counties. In addition, Nevada Occupation Safety
and Health Administration (Nevada OSHA) is updating its guidance for employers
to reflect the additional restrictions announced by Governor Sisolak yesterday
which are effective beginning Tuesday, November 24. Once updated, the guidance
will be posted to http://dir.nv.gov.
The
Division is urging businesses to reach out to the Safety Consultation and
Training Section (SCATS) for free consultation and assistance with implementing
mandated workplace health and safety measures. SCATS can be reached by calling 1-877-4SAFENV.
Businesses
can also contact their local jurisdiction to find resources and potential
financial assistance. For example, businesses currently holding a valid business license
within Carson City are eligible to apply for personal protective equipment and
sanitation supplies such as disposable gloves, masks, hand sanitizer, sanitizer
stands and cleaning solution. Visit carson.org/ppe to submit
an online application for supplies that are delivered directly to business
locations within Carson City upon approval.
Citations
for Noncompliance
Last
week, five citations for violation of required COVID-19 workplace health and
safety measures were issued by Nevada OSHA. Agency officials monitor and
enforce compliance through in-field observations and through investigations
opened in response to complaints and referrals filed with OSHA.
Las Vegas
Basketball Center LLC- 7350
Prairie Falcon Road, Suite 110, Las Vegas, NV 89128; Inspection #:
1484361; Penalty: $3,643; Violation summary: The business held
close-contact competition basketball games at their facility involving players
and referees
Integrity
Sports Officiating LLC- 7181
Hualapai Way, Suite 130-92, Las Vegas, NV 89166; Inspection #: 1497826;
Penalty: $3,643; Violation summary: Employees officiated
close-contact competition basketball games at the Las Vegas Basketball Center
facility.
Ruby
Has LLC- 3717 Bay Lake Trail, Suite #101, North
Las Vegas, NV 89030; Inspection #: 1486274;
Penalty: $7,808; Violation summary:
Failure to social distance during breaks and during company meetings
Tarkanian
Basketball Academy-
2730 South Rancho
Drive, Las Vegas, NV 89102; Inspection #:
1493469; Penalty: $3,643; Violation summary: Customers not
wearing face coverings, players were not social distancing during scrimmage,
and the employer was not utilizing an approved disinfectant from EPA list
IES
Residential, Inc.- 7180 Dean Martin Drive, LAS VEGAS, NV
89118; Inspection #: 1502424; Penalty:
$8,675; Violation Summary: Employees were observed not wearing face
coverings and not social distancing
Nevada
OSHA has issued a total of 187 notices of citation and penalty related to
violations of required COVID-19 health and safety measures in effect since
mid-March. The citations have been issued as a result of both the employer
observation process as well as through the investigation of employee complaints
or public referrals.
Observation
Findings: Initial
Since
observations began in late-June to determine compliance with mandated health
and safety measures under the Governor’s Declaration of Emergency Directive 024
and Nevada OSHA’s Guidance for Roadmap to Recovery, DIR officials have
conducted 10,270 initial visits at business establishments finding a cumulative
89 percent statewide compliance rate, a 91 percent compliance rate in northern
Nevada and 88 percent compliance in southern Nevada.
During the
week beginning November 16, officials conducted 251 initial visits observing
only one business, a restaurant in Sparks, out of compliance.
Observation
Findings: Follow Up
Since
observations to determine compliance with mandated health and safety measures
began, DIR officials have conducted 2,197 follow up visits finding a 96 percent
statewide compliance rate with a 97 percent compliance rate in northern Nevada,
and 93 percent in the south.
During the
week beginning November 16, officials conducted 158 follow up visits, finding a
grocery store in Eureka, to be out of compliance. The business is subject to
additional action and potential citation.
Complaint
Data
In addition to
the field observation process, Nevada OSHA responds to complaints from
employees and referrals from the public regarding face coverings, social
distancing, cleaning and disinfection, and other areas of concern related to
COVID-19 received by their offices. Of the 4,902 complaints received, 28
percent of the complaints concern general retail followed by 17 percent for
restaurants and bars, 8 percent about medical facilities, 6 percent concern
casinos and gaming and 5 percent about grocery stores.
Additional
complaint data is available on the Division’s observation and complaint data
dashboard. A link to the dashboard can be found on the homepage of the
Division’s website http://dir.nv.gov.
Workplace
health and safety complaints can be reported to the Division by filing an
online complaint at https://www.osha.gov/pls/osha7/eComplaintForm.html.
Important
Information for Employers
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. For more information visit http://dir.nv.gov/OSHA/home.
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