The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) today announced an interim enforcement response plan for the coronavirus pandemic, effective immediately. The response plan provides instructions and guidance to OSHA Area Offices and compliance safety and health officers (CSHOs) for handling coronavirus-related complaints, referrals, and severe illness reports. This follows OSHA's recent announcement recognizing COVID-19 as a "recordable illness" after receiving more than 2,000 complaints related to the coronavirus by early April. In fact, OSHA received so many complaints that it stopped sending letters requiring a response from employers, instead opting to send notification letters to the employers addressing COVID-19 workplace safety. 

During the coronavirus outbreak, OSHA Area Offices will utilize their inspection resources to fulfill mission essential functions and protect workers exposed to the disease. The response plan contains interim procedures that allow flexibility and discretion for field offices to maximize OSHA's impact in securing safe workplaces in this evolving environment. The term interim is used, as this is anticipated to be time-limited to the current health crisis.

The response plan outlines procedures for addressing reports of workplace hazards related to the coronavirus. Fatalities and imminent danger exposures related to the coronavirus will be prioritized for on-site inspections. The response plan contains procedures and sample documentation for CSHOs to use during coronavirus-related inspections. Workers requesting inspections, complaining of coronavirus exposure, or reporting illnesses may be protected under one or more whistleblower statutes and will be informed of their protections from retaliation.