Saturday, May 29, 2010

OSHA Seeking Comments for Possible Infectious Agents Standard

OSHA is requesting information and comment on occupational exposure to infectious agents in settings where healthcare is provided, (e.g., hospitals, outpatient clinics, etc.), and healthcare-related settings (e.g., laboratories that handle potentially infectious biological materials). OSHA is interested in strategies that are being used in such healthcare and other healthcare-related work settings to mitigate the risk of occupationally-acquired infectious diseases.

David Michaels, OSHA’s new director stated in May that OSHA has inadequate standards for workers exposed to infectious materials. “The OSHA laboratory standard deals with chemicals,” Mr. Michaels said. “It doesn’t deal with infectious agents.” Rather than trying to establish new rules for each infectious agent or for any specific hazards, Mr. Michaels expects OSHA to eventually require employers, in consultation with their employees, to identify all potential hazards in their workplaces and to take steps to reduce them. OSHA would then have the power to cite employers for failure to adequately implement this process.

As a first step toward possible new regulations, the agency issued a sweeping request for information on occupational risks from infectious agents, and for suggestions on how best to reduce them. The focus is mainly on hospital and other health care workers, but any rules are expected to also cover industry laboratory workers. The deadline for comments is August 4, 2010. For more information go to: http://tinyurl.com/2984wbm.