One citation issued in Reno, COVID-19 workplace safety compliance rates announced for October 12-16

Las Vegas, NV October 19, 2020

One citation for violations of required COVID-19 workplace health and safety measures were issued last week by the Division of Industrial Relations’ Nevada Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Agency officials monitor and enforce compliance through in-field observations and through investigations opened in response to complaints and referrals filed with OSHA.

The citations was issued after an investigation was initiated as a result of a complaint or referral filed with Nevada OSHA alleging workplace safety hazards.

Reno Cab Company 475 Gentry Way, Reno, NV 89502, Penalty: $8,501, Violation Summary: Lack of face coverings not being worn by employees and social distancing requirements were not being enforced within the company’s office facilities

Nevada OSHA has issued a total of 172 notices of citation and penalty related to violations of required COVID-19 health and safety measures in effect since mid-March.

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 9,293 initial visits at business establishments finding a cumulative 89 percent statewide compliance rate, a 90 percent compliance rate in northern Nevada and 87 percent compliance in southern Nevada.

During the week beginning October 12, officials conducted 163 initial visits across the state at a wide range of business sectors finding a 96 percent compliance rate statewide. Eighteen of the 21 business categories were 100 percent complaint. The three business categories with less-than-perfect compliance during the week of October 12 include:

  • Convenience stores, 8 observations- 88 percent compliance
  • Restaurants, 27 observations- 89 percent compliance
  • Other, 19 observations- 90 percent compliance

Observation Findings: Follow Up

Since observations to determine compliance with mandated health and safety measures began, DIR officials have conducted 1,720 follow up visits finding a cumulative 96 percent statewide compliance rate with a 97 percent compliance rate in northern Nevada, and 93 percent in the south.

During the week beginning October 12, officials conducted 38 follow up visits finding 100 percent compliance.

Complaint Data

In addition to the field observation process, Nevada OSHA continues to 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. Of the 4,330 complaints received, 28 percent of the complaints concern general retail followed by restaurants and bars, 18 percent; medical facilities, 7.5 percent; casinos and gaming, 6 percent; and grocery stores, 5.5 percent. 

The top five zip codes for complaints, to-date, include:

  • 89502 (Reno), 226 complaints
  •  89109 (Las Vegas, Unincorporated), 199 complaints
  • 89119 (Las Vegas, Unincorporated), 149 complaints
  • 89431 (Sparks), 149 complaints
  • 89434 (Sparks), 133 complaints

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. 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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