Nevada OSHA Adopts Federal OSHA’s COVID-19 Healthcare Emergency Temporary Standard, Issues Updated COVID-19 Guidance for All Other Businesses

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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Contact

Teri Williams
Public Information Officer