Update Notice: As of July 21, 2021, healthcare businesses must be in full compliance with OSHA’s Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS), including its guidelines for ventilation, physical barriers and training. Although the ETS is already in effect, the comment period is extended through August 20, 2021. Read more about the extended comment period and field inspection and […]

OSHA recently announced that its officers will investigate your non-work-related records of employees that have COVID-19. But determining the cause of the illness is really tricky, and there’s a lot at stake. Do it wrong, and you could get hit with a costly employee safety penalty. It’s up to you to steer clear of OSHA […]

QUESTION: We are very confused about which COVID-19 PPE requirements our practice should follow. We are an ophthalmology practice, and we don’t allow symptomatic patients to come in. Should we still mandate that some or all of our staff wear masks? How about our front desk staff that just check patients in and out? Question […]

Screening your employees for coronavirus is a ticking time bomb. Require too much from employees and your demands could trigger a complaint and even a lawsuit. Ask too little and the safety of your patients and staff are at risk. Cut through the confusion of how to screen your employees so your policies best diffuse […]

As coronavirus counts surge, it’s now more likely than ever that you’ll have to manage employees who test positive for COVID-19. Doing so is fraught with very real legal and compliance pitfalls. Make one misstep and you could endanger patients and violate privacy and compensation laws. There is a way to follow all the needed […]

Question: We are testing employees daily for COVID-19 to protect staff and patients. If an employee tests positive for COVID-19, are we required to record an OSHA incident? Question from Los Angeles, CA subscriber Answer: Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requirements mandate that you record certain work-related illnesses. COVID-19 is included in the regulation […]

With the coronavirus rapidly spreading, your office can be ground zero for passing germs. Learn how to get the right patients to use face masks in the waiting room and to implement processes to encourage compliance, not panic. Use Masks, Communication, Screening as First Lines of Defense Coughing patients and anyone suspected of having the […]