Employers Could Qualify for OSHA Virus ‘Good Faith’ Exemption

Employers that can’t meet OSHA requirements for safety training and other regular reviews because of coronavirus issues may not be cited for the shortfalls if they’ve made a “good faith” effort to comply, a new directive said.

Travel restrictions and businesses closing could make it difficult for employers to meet a wide range of Occupational Safety and Health mandates, from breathing tests to re-certification of construction crane operators, the April 16 directive from OSHA’s construction and enforcement offices said.

The policy applies to all employers subject to OSHA inspections—those with 11 or more workers. It most directly affects companies with ...