Getting back to 'normal'? Here are some points to consider

As employers look to a postpandemic recovery, they're shifting their attention toward getting back to "normal." But normal isn't what it used to be, and you now have to focus on keeping employees healthy—and keeping your operations legally compliant. It's not going to be as simple as telling people to resume their work as they did before COVID-19 struck. Thoughts of personal protective equipment (PPE), engineering and administrative controls, discrimination risks, and more are now front and center.

OSHA guidance

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued various informational documents since COVID-19 outbreaks began. In its "Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19," OSHA emphasizes that a lack of planning "can result in a cascade of failures." The agency classifies employers as low, medium, and high or very high risk and provides guidance for each type as well as steps you can take to reduce risk. Here are a few: