OSHA COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standard

On June 10, 2021, OSHA released their COVID-19 Healthcare Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS). This blog will discuss the highlights of the new requirements of the ETS. Employers should consult the standard for full details. This blog will take about 10 minutes to read.

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As part of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) commitment to protect workers and deliver stronger worker safety requirements, OSHA has issued a COVID-19 Healthcare Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) that establishes new requirements to protect workers from exposure to the coronavirus in all settings, with some exceptions, where any employee provides healthcare services or healthcare support services.

This healthcare ETS is aimed at protecting workers facing the highest COVID-19 hazards— those working in healthcare settings where suspected or confirmed COVID-19 patients are treated. This includes employees in hospitals, nursing homes, and assisted living facilities; emergency responders; home healthcare workers; and employees in ambulatory care settings where suspected or confirmed COVID-19 patients are treated.

The ETS exempts fully vaccinated workers from masking, distancing, and barrier requirements when in well-defined areas where there is no reasonable expectation that any person with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 will be present.

Requirements

The ETS generally requires employers to:

· Conduct a hazard assessment and implement a COVID-19 plan for each workplace. Engage employees in the development of the plan.

· Screen and triage patients, clients, residents, delivery people, and other visitors and nonemployees entering the setting for symptoms of COVID-19. Implement patient management strategies.

· Develop and implement policies and procedures to adhere to Standard and Transmission-Based Precautions in accordance with CDC guidelines.

· Provide and ensure employees wear facemasks when indoors and when occupying a vehicle with another person for work purposes.

· Provide and ensure employees wear respirators and other personal protective equipment (PPE) for exposure to people with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 and for aerosol-generating procedures (AGPs) on a person with suspected or confirmed COVID-19.

 · Provide respirators and other PPE in accordance with Standard and Transmission Based Precautions.

 · For AGPs on persons with suspected or confirmed COVID-19, limit employees present to only those essential, perform procedures in an airborne infection isolation room (AIIR), if available, and clean and disinfect surfaces and equipment.

· Keep employees at least 6 feet apart from all other people when indoors.

· Install cleanable or disposable solid barriers at fixed workspaces in non-patient areas where employees are not separated from others by at least 6 feet.

 · Follow standard practices for cleaning and disinfection of surfaces and equipment in accordance with CDC guidelines in patient care areas, resident rooms, and for medical devices and equipment. In all other areas, clean high-touch surfaces and equipment at least once a day. Provide alcohol-based hand rub that is at least 60% alcohol or provide readily accessible handwashing facilities.

· Ensure employer-owned or controlled HVAC systems are used according to manufacturer’s instructions and design specifications, and that air filters are rated Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) 13 or higher if the system allows it.

· Screen employees before each workday and shift.

· Notify certain employees if a person who has been in the workplace is COVID-19 positive.

 · Remove employees who have suspected or confirmed COVID-19, certain COVID-19 symptoms, or have had close contact to a person who is COVID-19 positive in the workplace. In some cases, provide pay and benefits to employees removed from the workplace.

· Provide reasonable time and paid leave for vaccinations and vaccine side effects (offset by tax credits for employers with fewer than 500 employees).

· Train employees on workplace policies and procedures regarding COVID-19 in a language they understand.

· Record all employee cases of COVID-19 on a COVID-19 log without regard to occupational exposure. Report work-related COVID-19 fatalities to OSHA within 8 hours of employer knowledge and work-related COVID-19 in-patient hospitalizations within 24 hours.

The ETS also contains a mini respiratory protection program. State plans also may have different requirements.

How can Triangle Safety Help?

Contact us at Connect@trianglesafetyllc.com for assistance with the implementation of the mandatory standard at your healthcare facility. We know you are capable of ensuring your workplace is following the requirements; however, we know your time could be spent on other tasks.

Let us assist you today.

Contact us today for your safety & health needs!

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Brandy Bossle, CSP is our Owner & Principal consultant. Read more about her here: https://trianglesafetyllc.com/staff