Los Angeles, Calif. (March 20, 2020) -
The Novel Coronavirus Disease 2019, or COVID-19, has unleashed a
plethora of legal issues for employers ranging from closing down
businesses to employees working remotely from home. But some
industries will have to remain open, which raises the potential for
exposure to COVID-19. The virus is thought to spread mainly from
person-to-person who are in close proximity (within 6 feet) through
respiratory drops when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
In response to possible exposure to COVID-19, the United States
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently
issued guidance for employers on how to handle the COVID-19
pandemic. OSHA’s guidelines rely in large part on previously
issued guidance from the Center for Disease Control (CDC). On March
9, 2020, OSHA issued “Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for
COVID-19,” which provides useful suggestion for employers. On
March 14, 2020, OSHA issued a second article
