What We Know Now
OSHA Recordkeeping Update:
COVID-19 Illness/Exposures
Under normal circumstances, after we completed the E-Reporting by March 2, we would be finished with the OSHA Recordkeeping for the year. However, the onset of the COVID-19 outbreak has many people seeking help with questions related to entries on the OSHA Form 300 and when to record an illness related to the disease. Read the news release about the interim guidance for enforcing OSHA’s recordkeeping requirements.
OSHA’s recordkeeping rules apply only to injuries or illnesses. Illnesses include both acute and chronic illnesses, such as, but not limited to, skin disease, respiratory disorder, or poisoning. OSHA has essentially excluded cases of the common cold or the seasonal flu from coverage but has now determined that confirmed cases of COVID-19 will be considered a recordable illness under the rule. Thus, if an employee simply comes into work with symptoms consistent with COVID-19, but not a confirmed diagnosis, the recordability analysis would not be triggered.
When making a determination of work-relatedness for recordkeeping purposes, the employer’s assessment should consider the work environment itself, the type of work performed, the risk of person-to-person transmission given the work environment, and other factors such as community spread. Healthcare work environments—where job activities are more likely to result in person-to-person exposure—would present a more likely scenario of work-relatedness than non-healthcare settings. Because each work environment is different, employers must conduct an individualized assessment when a confirmed case of the COVID-19 surfaces. Get more information on the OSHA Recordkeeping rules for COVID-19.
L&I Pandemic Emergency Rules
Washington businesses that decide to open or operate in direct violation of Gov. Inslee’s Stay Home, Stay Healthy order may be cited and fined for unsafe workplace conditions under emergency rules filed by the state Department of Labor & Industries (L&I).
The emergency rules, enacted at the direction of the Governor, take effect immediately. They give L&I the authority to cite businesses for being open or for operating in a way that is purposely defying the phased-in approach and, as a result, putting their workers at risk. Read the L&I May Bulletin for more information.
COVID-19 Information
MBA COVID-19 Phase 2 Construction Toolkit
Effective June 5, 2020, King and Snohomish counties are authorized to proceed to operate under Phase 2 Construction Restart Rules. This means that all construction is allowed to resume in both counties. Phase 2 will carry over many of the Phase 1 requirements, although a few are eliminated, a few modified, and a few added. To assist members in understanding the next steps, MBA has compiled a toolkit to guide the homebuilding community. MBA COVID-19 Phase 2 Toolkit
Additional updates and resources on Covid-19 can be found on the MBAKS
website, MBAKS COVID-19 Resources
DOSH Compliance Inspections
L&I DOSH has begun to respond to safety related COVID-19 workplace employee complaints. A healthcare community recently received a DOSH compliance letter wherein the complainant alleged he/she was working without the necessary PPE (personal protective equipment) that would protect him/her from errant exposure to the virus.
This is a standard format letter that DOSH sends to address when there has been no serious accident or incident and they are seeking a timely response of corrective actions made to mitigate the complaint. The recipient of the letter is also instructed to post the letter from DOSH in a place where all employees can see it, for a period of a minimum of three days.
Any employer that receives a letter from DOSH must pay attention to the instructions within the letter and to the timeframes noted. While a compliance inspection of the property is not imminent, failure to comply with the provisions in the letter may result in a visit from the compliance inspector.
Whether your business is identified as an essential business or not, if the letter arrives in your mail, pay strict attention to the contents of the letter. If you have questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to contact John Sevier, ERNwest Safety and Loss Control Manager at 253.300.6399 or jsevier@ernwest.com.
Safety
Fireworks Safety
Summer is synonymous with barbecues, parades and fireworks. The National Safety Council advises everyone to enjoy fireworks at public displays conducted by professionals, and not to use any fireworks at home. They may be legal, but they are not safe. Learn more
National Heat Stroke Awareness Month
The human body is normally able to regulate its temperature through sweating until it is exposed to more heat than it can handle. Heat exhaustion and heat stroke can escalate rapidly, leading to delirium, organ damage and even death.
Find out more about heatstroke.
Are you hydrated?
Urine color says a lot about your hydration status. Generally, the lighter the color, the more hydrated you are. Learn more
GRIP Safety
Access Toolbox Tips and general safety resources. Learn more.
Upcoming Training
GRIP Live Training
These GRIP-specific trainings benefit new members or members who would like to review the content. Click on the dates below for more information about the training and to register. *These trainings have been moved to a webinar.
July 17, *Webinar, 10:30am | Getting your GRIP on Claims, Comp & Safety
July 17, *Webinar, 12:30pm | Opioid, Drug, and Alcohol Addiction in the Workplace: Best Practices for Employers
ERNwest Webinar Training
Select the dates below for more information about ERNwest-specific trainings and to register.
July 2, Webinar, 2:00pm | What is Retro*
July 21, Webinar, 10:00am | Fundamentals of Claims Management*
July 28, Webinar, 10:00am | Providing Kept on Salary and Modified-Duty
View a list of all ERNwest trainin
Remember to report all incidents on the ERNwest website so that your claims manager is aware and can help guide you through the process. | ERNwest.com/report-an-incident
Per the Governor’s Stay Home and Stay Safe Order, MBAKS offices are closed through May 31 to keep staff members safe. Staff are well-equipped to be productive on your behalf from remote locations and can be reached via phone or email. Events and class cancellations are noted on the MBAKS Events Calendar.
GRIP Retro Questions?
Trish Leimbach, GRIP Group Manager | (253) 343-0153 | TLeimbach@ernwest.com
GRIP Safety Questions?
John Sevier, GRIP Safety Manager | (253) 300-6399 | jsevier@ernwest.com
