OSHA’s in-person checks of construction sites have plunged by 84 percent during the COVID-19 pandemic. The agency has focused its attention on virus transmission hazards in the health-care industry, according to OSHA data. In the first week of March, OSHA conducted about 395 construction inspections. The number of inspections at construction sites dropped to about 65 during the week of April 26.
Construction work has continued across much of the nation, as the federal government deemed it an essential industry. Some 975,000 construction workers became unemployed in April, but there were still 6.6 million people employed in construction.
If a construction hazard is less than an imminent danger, and unless there is a fatality, the likelihood of an inspection now is low, according to a trade union executive.
Advertisement
Related Stories
Jobsite Safety
OSHA Issues Final Rule for Jobsite Inspections
The March 29 rule amends the existing OSHA regulation for who can accompany OSHA inspectors during workplace inspections
Jobsite Safety
Survey Finds Women in Construction Still Lack Appropriate PPE
The survey found that women working in construction face challenges when it comes to finding properly fitting personal protective equipment for the jobsite
Women in Construction
Ways Women Are Overcoming Hurdles and Making Gains in Construction Careers
Actionable advice for women construction workers who encounter bias on the job