OSHA COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standard
On June 21, 2021, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) published its COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standard (“ETS”). Although many of the provisions of the ETS are enforceable today, employers in the healthcare industry have until July 21, 2021 to obtain compliance with certain provisions of the ETS, such as those for physical barriers, ventilation requirements, and training obligations. Join us for a discussion about what the ETS means to your business.
As stated by OSHA, the ETS is intended “to protect healthcare and healthcare support service workers from occupational exposure to COVID-19 in settings where people with COVID-19 are reasonably expected to be present. During the period of the emergency standard, covered healthcare employers must develop and implement a COVID-19 plan to identify and control COVID-19 hazards in the workplace.
Covered employers must also implement other requirements to reduce transmission of COVID-19 in their workplaces, related to the following: Patient screening and management; Standard and Transmission-Based Precautions; personal protective equipment (PPE), including facemasks or respirators; controls for aerosol-generating procedures; physical distancing of at least six feet, when feasible; physical barriers; cleaning and disinfection; ventilation; health screening and medical management; training; anti-retaliation; recordkeeping; and reporting."