Coronavirus Information

Measures for protecting workers from exposure to, and infection with, the novel coronavirus, COVID-19 depends on the type of work being performed and exposure risk, including potential for interaction with infectious people and contamination of the work environment. Employers should adapt infection control strategies based on a thorough hazard assessment, using appropriate combinations of engineering and administrative controls, safe work practices, and personal protective equipment (PPE) to prevent worker exposures. Some OSHA standards that apply to preventing occupational exposure to COVID-19 also require employers to train workers on elements of infection prevention, including PPE.

OSHA has developed this interim guidance to help prevent worker exposure to COVID-19.  

General guidance for all U.S. workers and employers: 

For all workers, regardless of specific exposure risks, it is always a good practice to:

• Frequently wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. When soap and running water are unavailable, use an alcohol-based hand rub with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands that are visibly soiled.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has developed interim guidance for businesses and employers to plan for and respond to COVID-19. The interim guidance is intended to help prevent workplace exposures to acute respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19. The guidance also addresses considerations that may help employers prepare for more widespread, community outbreaks of COVID-19, in the event that this kind of transmission begins to occur. The guidance is intended for non-healthcare settings; healthcare workers and employers should consult guidance specific to them, below.

Interim guidance for most U.S. workers and employers of workers unlikely to have occupational exposures to COVID-19

For most people in the United States, including most types of workers, the risk of infection with COVID-19 is currently low. This applies to U.S. workers not discussed elsewhere on this page (i.e., those not involved in healthcare, deathcare, laboratory, airline, border protection, or solid waste and wastewater management operations or international travel to areas with ongoing, person-to-person transmission of COVID-19). Such workers’ exposure risk is similar to that of the general American public.

Employers and workers in operations where there is no specific exposure hazard should remain aware of the evolving outbreak situation. Changes in outbreak conditions may warrant additional precautions in some workplaces not currently highlighted in this guidance.

Interim guidance for U.S. workers and employers of workers with potential occupational exposures to COVID-19

Workers and employers involved in healthcare, deathcare, laboratory, airline, border protection, and solid waste and wastewater management operations and international travel to areas with ongoing, person-to-person transmission of COVID-19 should remain aware of the evolving outbreak situation.

As discussed on the Hazard Recognition page, employers should assess the hazards to which their workers may be exposed; evaluate the risk of exposure; and select, implement, and ensure workers use controls to prevent exposure. Control measures may include a combination of engineering and administrative controls, safe work practices, and PPE.

There is no specific OSHA standard covering COVID-19. However, some OSHA requirements may apply to prevent occupational exposure to COVID-19. 

Among the most relevant are:

• OSHA's Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) standards (in general industry, 29 CFR 1910 Subpart I), which require using gloves, eye and face protection, and respiratory protection.
  • When respirators are necessary to protect workers, employers must implement a comprehensive respiratory protection program in accordance with the Respiratory Protection standard (29 CFR 1910.134).
• The General Duty Clause, Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Act of 1970, 29 USC 654(a)(1), which requires employers to furnish to each worker “employment and a place of employment, which are free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm.”

OSHA’s Bloodborne Pathogens standard (29 CFR 1910.1030) applies to occupational exposure to human blood and other potentially infectious materials that typically do not include respiratory secretions that may transmit COVID-19. However, the provisions of the standard offer a framework that may help control some sources of the virus, including exposures to body fluids (e.g., respiratory secretions) not covered by the standard.

The Safety In Paradise OSHA Consultation Program is closely monitoring COVID-19 which is a global health care concern.  As a result of the ongoing pandemic, we will be postponing all in-person outreach training and consultation visits.  

Although we are limiting in-person contact, the Consultation staff is readily available to assist you remotely via video conference and email.  For remote assistance, please send an email to safetyinparadise@uvi.edu or complete the form below.