SC OSHA

SC OSHA COVID-19 Worker Safety Guidance

SC OSHA is providing guidance to employers and employees as a result of COVID-19. Please use the information and resources below to help keep everyone safe and healthy.

Supreme Court Upholds Stay of the OSHA's COVID-19 Vaccination, Testing and Face Coverings Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS2): Here's What You Need to Know

On January 13, 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court issued an opinion on federal OSHA's COVID-19 Vaccination, Testing and Face Coverings Emergency Temporary Standard, published on November 5, 2021 (86 Fed. Reg. 61402) ("ETS"). In the opinion, the Court reinstated the stay on implementation of OSHA's emergency temporary standard on COVID -19 vaccination and testing. A copy of the ruling can be found on the U.S. Supreme Court website. At this time, the ETS is not in effect.

Healthcare ETS Withdrawn: Here's What You Need to Know

OSHA announced on December 27, 2021, that it is withdrawing the healthcare ETS issued on June 21, 2021, with the exception of the recordkeeping requirements within the healthcare ETS, which remain in place under a separate provision of the OSH Act. You can view those applicable standards here. OSHA states that it will continue to work towards a permanent standard finalizing the healthcare ETS. SC OSHA will continue to monitor the progress of the development of this permanent standard.

In the meantime, employers must continue to comply with their obligations under OSHA's General Duty Clause, the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and Respiratory Protection Standards, as well as other applicable OSHA standards to protect their employees against the hazard of COVID-19 in the workplace. SC OSHA will continue to enforce these ongoing requirements and provide compliance assistance, training and consultation upon request. The Standards Office can be reached at 803.896.7661. Outreach and Education can be reached at 803.896.7744.

General Information

• SC OSHA Guidance on Returning to Work During COVID-19 Pandemic
• OSHA Corona Virus Guidance
• When You've Been Fully Vaccinated - How to Protect Yourself and Others
• Interim Public Health Recommendations for Fully Vaccinated People
• Updated Interim Enforcement Response Plan for COVID-19
• Fact Sheet: When is COVID-19 Recordable and Reportable?
• Frequently Cited Standards Related to COVID-19 Inspections
• The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued Guidance on Returning to Work to assist employers reopening non-essential businesses and their employees returning to work during the evolving coronavirus pandemic.
• Prevent Worker Exposure to Coronavirus (SC OSHA)
• Worker Exposure Risk to COVID-19 (SC OSHA)
• Worker Exposure Risk to COVID-19 (Spanish) (OSHA)
• General Requirements and Prevention Practices (SC OSHA)
• Higher Risk Jobs Need Extra Protections to Keep Workers Safe (OSHA)
• Ten Steps All Workplaces Can Take to Reduce the Risk of Exposure to Coronavirus (OSHA)
• Stop the Spread of Germs (poster) (CDC)
• Stop the Spread of Germs (poster) (CDC) (Spanish)
• Hazard Recognition (OSHA)
• Resources for Businesses and Workplaces (CDC)
• Cleaning and Disinfecting Your Facility (CDC)
• COVID-19 Hazard Recognition (OSHA)
• COVID-19 Control and Prevention (OSHA)
• Workplace Decision Tree (CDC)

Personal Protective Equipment

• Interim Guidance - N95 Respirator Use in Patient Care (SC OSHA)
• Masks Versus Respirators (SC OSHA)
• Strategies to Optimize the Supply of PPE and Equipment (CDC)
• Sequence for safely putting on and removing Personal Protective Equipment (CDC)
• Video: How to Put on and Take off a Mask (OSHA)
• Seven Steps to Correctly Wear a Respirator at Work (OSHA)
• Seven Steps to Correctly Wear a Respirator at Work (Spanish) (OSHA)

Industry- and Topic-Specific Resources

Health Care

• Information for Healthcare Professionals (CDC)
• Healthcare Workers and Employers (OSHA)
• Emergency Response Workers and Employers (OSHA)
• Healthcare Professionals (CDC)
• Infection Prevention and Control (CDC)
• COVID-19 Guidance for Nursing Home and Long-Term Care Facility Workers (OSHA) (also available in Spanish)

Small Business

• Prepare your Small Business and Employees for the Effects of COVID-19 (CDC)

Airlines/Travel

• Airline Industry Standards

Cleanup and Sanitization

• List of Disinfectants for Use Against SARS-CoV-2 (Coronavirus)(EPA)

Construction

• OSHA Webpage Devoted to Coronavirus-related Guidance for Construction Workers and Employers (OSHA)
• COVID-19 Guidance for the Construction Workforce (OSHA)
• COVID-19 Guidance for the Construction Workforce (Spanish) (OSHA)
• CPWR: The Center for Construction Research and Training – COVID-19 Resources (CPWR)
• COVID-19 Recommended Job Site Protocols (GBCA)
• PowerPoint Presentation: COVID-19 Recommended Job Site Protocols (GBCA)

Dentistry

• CDC Updates COVID-19 Infection Prevention and Control Guidance

Hair and Nail Salons

• COVID-19 Guidance for Hair and Nail Salons (OSHA)

Manufacturing

• COVID-19 Guidance for the Manufacturing Industry Workforce (OSHA)

Meat, Seafood and Poultry Processing

• Protecting Workers: Guidance on Mitigating and Preventing the Spread of COVID-19 in the Workplace

Package Delivery Service

• COVID-19 Guidance for the Package Delivery Workforce (OSHA)
• COVID 19 Guidance for Package Delivery Workers (Spanish) (OSHA)

Pharmacies

• COVID-19 Guidance for Retail Pharmacies (OSHA)(also available in Spanish)

Transportation/Transit

• FTA COVID-19 Resource Tool
• Rideshare, Taxi, Limo, and Other Passenger Drivers-for-Hire

Restaurants/Food Trucks

• COVID-19 Guidance for Restaurants & Beverage Vendors Offering Takeout or Curbside Pickup (OSHA)
• COVID-19 Guidance for Food Trucks (OSHA)

Retail

• COVID-19 Guidance for Retail Workers

Solid Waste and Wastewater Management

• Guidance for Reducing Health Risks to Workers Handling Human Waste or Sewage
• Guidance for Controlling Potential Risks to Workers Exposed to Class B Biosolids

Related Resources

• CDC Coronavirus info (CDC)
• OSHA COVID-19 Info (OSHA)