Getting COVID lazy? Nevada OSHA might come calling!

A year has passed since the country first shut down to stop the spread of COVID-19. People are understandably eager to return to their everyday lives and regain a sense of normalcy. The arrival of several new vaccines, the limited reopening of public places, and a decrease in positive test results have given many hope we are beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel. While hope abounds, the law (at least as it pertains to masks and other virus preventions) hasn’t changed.

COVID-19 compliance in Nevada

At present, Nevada employers remain obligated to require employees to wear masks (when in public or other nonclosed office spaces) and remain at least six feet apart from one another. The state agency tasked with ensuring compliance with the legal requirements is the Nevada Occupational Safety and Health Administration (NV-OSHA).

Even before COVID-19's emergence, the NV-OSHA was tasked with ensuring employers provide a workplace free from recognized hazards. In the midst of the pandemic, “recognized hazards” can include the coronavirus. As a result, if businesses don’t take reasonable measures to prevent its spread in the workplace, penalties and other consequences may follow.