OSHA Issues General Guidance for Employers

WASHINGTON—The Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) continues to provide guidance to assist employees and employers with maintaining safe and healthy working conditions during the coronavirus pandemic. This guidance will be particularly useful as states continue to re-open.

The agency has collected a list of existing documents, both general and industry-specific, for businesses to use. Both OSHA and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) regularly update their webpages with reopening guidance relevant to various business communities.

Frequently check for updated guidance at:

• https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/covid-19/
• https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/organizations/businesses-employers.html

OSHA has also released general guidance for preparing workplaces for COVID-19: Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19.

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.
• Practice good respiratory etiquette, including covering coughs and sneezes.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Stay home if sick.
• Recognize personal risk factors. According to the CDC, certain people, including older adults and those with underlying conditions such as heart or lung disease or diabetes, are at higher risk for developing more serious complications from COVID-19.

In addition to the general guidance above, OSHA frequently issues specific guidance tailored to specific industries. Here are some of the recently released guidance related to the convenience and fuel retailing industry:

• Social Distancing at Work (Spanish)
• Restaurants & Beverage Vendors Offering Takeout or Curbside Pickup (Spanish)
• Retail Workers (Spanish)
• Prevent Worker Exposure to Coronavirus (COVID-19) (Spanish)

Coronavirus Resources

NACS has compiled resources to help the convenience retail community navigate the COVID-19 crisis. For news updates and guidance, visit our coronavirus resources page.

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