OSHA reviewing new CDC guidance on COVID-19, agency says

Washington — OSHA is reviewing new COVID-19-related guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for fully vaccinated people and anticipates an update of its own guidance materials in the near future, the agency says on its COVID-19 website.

Until the review is complete, OSHA is referring employers to the CDC guidance “for information on measures appropriate to protect fully vaccinated workers.”

CDC added to its guidance May 16, allowing for fully vaccinated people to forgo a mask or physical distancing unless required by laws, rules or regulations – including restrictions set by workplaces or businesses. A person is considered fully vaccinated two weeks after their final required shot.

The new recommendations do not apply to health care settings, CDC notes.

In a May 18 statement, the National Employment Law Project criticizes the new guidance for “failing to address” workplace exposure.

“The new guidance neglects to specify the mitigation measures needed to protect workers in workplaces where large numbers of both vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals work in enclosed spaces – including meatpacking, grocery stores, warehouses and food processing – where large numbers of workers have been infected and outbreaks continue to occur,” NELP says.