The state of Nevada’s Division of Industrial Relations this month announced the adoption of an emphasis program to ensure employees in high-hazard industries or workplaces are protected from contracting COVID-19.
On Jan. 21, President Biden issued a Presidential Executive Order on Protecting Worker Health and Safety, which directed the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to launch a national program to focus enforcement efforts related to COVID-19 on violations that put the largest number of workers at serious risk, and to enforce OSHA’s anti-retaliation mandates, according to an April 2 press release.
“Nevada OSHA, operating as an approved state enforcement program, is implementing the provisions of the national program throughout the state … to supplement the agency’s existing COVID-19 mitigation and enforcement efforts,” per the release.
High-hazard industries identified by Nevada OSHA include: healthcare, construction, food and agriculture, energy, transportation and logistics, manufacturing and gaming.
“The program will permit Nevada OSHA to realign inspection resources in a manner that will protect the largest number of workers likely to be exposed to COVID-19 based on their job duties, which will in turn reduce the number of unplanned visits conducted in low-risk industries,” according to the release. “Nevada OSHA will also continue to respond to complaints of workplace health and safety concerns from any industry.”
Go to dir.nv.gov/OSHA/Regulations to view the full emphasis program.
