Las Vegas, NV June 24, 2021
The
Division of Industrial Relations has announced the adoption of the US
Department of Labor’s OSHA Healthcare Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) to
protect healthcare workers from contracting SARS-CoV-2, the cause of
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). In
addition to the healthcare focused ETS, Nevada OSHA has updated its Guidance
for Business Operations for all non-healthcare businesses in Nevada.
The Healthcare
ETS establishes new requirements for settings where employees provide
healthcare or healthcare support services, including skilled nursing homes and
home healthcare, with some exemptions for healthcare providers who screen out
patients who may have COVID-19.
Nevada
OSHA, operating as an approved state enforcement program, is implementing the provisions
of the national ETS program throughout the state of Nevada effective July 1,
2021. Healthcare employers must comply with most provisions within 14 days and the
remaining provisions within 30 days. The
agency will use its enforcement discretion to avoid citing employers who miss a
compliance deadline but are making a good-faith effort to comply.
The
full text of the OSHA COVID-19 Healthcare ETS, summaries, fact sheets, FAQ’s
and other resources are posted online at https://www.osha.gov/coronavirus/ets.
Nevada
OSHA has also updated its COVID-19 Guidance for Business Operations under the
State of Nevada’s Declaration of Emergency and Center for Disease Control Prevention
and Guidance. This updated guidance effective
June 24, 2021, addresses areas including vaccination, face coverings, personal
protective equipment, congregation of employees, sanitation practices, health monitoring,
prevention plans and job hazard analysis.
The updates
from the previous version of the guidance address modification of required sanitation
practices including clarification of when cleaning should occur and under what circumstances
the use of EPA List N disinfectants should be used.
The
full text of the COVID-19 Guidance for Business Operations under the State of
Nevada’s Declaration of Emergency and Center for Disease Control Prevention and
Guidance (June 24, 2021 version) is posted online at https://www.dir.nv.gov/.
Complying implementing
the most up-to-date with COVID-19 safety standards and practices can be
challenging. The Division of Industrial Relations Safety Consultation and
Training Section (SCATS) 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 is the principal regulatory agency
responsible for workplace safety and worker protections in the state of Nevada.
Comprised of five sections – the Occupational Safety and Health Administration,
the Worker’s Compensation Section, the Mechanical Compliance Section, the Mine
Safety and Training Section, and the Safety Consultation and Training Section –
DIR works to protect Nevada’s workforce 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 2019 – June 2020, Nevada
OSHA conducted 714 inspections, issuing an average of 1.6 violations per
inspection. For more information visit http://dir.nv.gov/OSHA/
The
Nevada State Plan, at the time of publication of this media release, is funded
by a grant of $1,602,700 federal funds, which constitutes 50 percent of the
State Plan budget. Fifty percent, or $1,602,700 of the State Plan budget, is
financed through non-governmental sources.
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