Companies are making their own safety rules as the federal government stands aside

New York CNN Business — America’s grocery stores, retail chains and warehouses staying open during the coronavirus crisis can’t seem to agree on how exactly to keep their millions of workers safe at the height of a pandemic. Target said it will provide workers with masks and gloves and will “strongly encourage that they be worn while working.” But it’s not taking workers’ temperatures. It says that workers in “some high-volume retail settings” have “medium exposure risk” and should employers should “consider offering face masks to ill employees and customers.” Additionally, workers with medium exposure risk “may need to wear some combination of gloves, a gown, a face mask, and/or a face shield or goggles.” In a statement to CNN, a spokesperson for the Department of Labor said OSHA is “using a risk-based approach to assess and prioritize our field work, and is employing all inspection protocols available to support the mission of protecting worker safety and health.” “OSHA is providing robust compliance assistance to employers and workers during this challenging time,” the spokesperson added. “The agency’s proactive measures are focused on getting workers the protections they need – this balanced with OSHA’s enforcement tools.” If OSHA found “flagrant violations of the law, the agency would use all enforcement tools available.” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Monday that OSHA should adopt an emergency standard with regulations for essential workers like pharmacists and grocery store workers. “Employers can ignore it.” Marc Perrone, president of the United Food and Commercial Workers union representing 1.3 million grocery and food processing workers, said “the government really should take a position as it relates to people in these essential positions.” UFCW represents workers at Kroger and Albertsons and has pushed for more stringent safety measures to protect workers in contracts with these companies.