Opportunity to Submit Comments to OSHA on Exposure to Infectious Agents Closes Aug. 4

The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is continuing to ask members of the infection prevention and control community to comment on occupational exposure to infectious agents in healthcare settings.

OSHA says it is interested in strategies currently being deployed in healthcare settings to mitigate the risk of work-acquired infectious diseases. As such, OSHA is collecting information and data on the facilities and the tasks potentially exposing workers to this risk; successful employee infection control programs; control methodologies being utilized (including engineering, work practice, and administrative controls and personal protective equipment); medical surveillance programs; and training.

"All workplaces must be safe workplaces," says David Michaels, assistant secretary of labor. "We know that workers in healthcare and related facilities may be exposed to infectious agents, and they deserve to be protected. Preventing infectious disease among workers also will reduce exposure to their family members and to patients."

OSHA will use the information received in response to this request to determine what action, if any, the agency may take to further limit the spread of occupationally-acquired infectious diseases in these types of settings.

The deadline to submit comments is Aug. 4, 2010.

Comments and additional materials may be submitted by any of the following methods:

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