OSHA stops making COVID-19 healthcare rules
The agency's focus is now shifting to broader protection against infectious diseases in healthcare settings.
OSHA has officially ended its effort to finalize a COVID-19 safety rule for healthcare workers. The proposal, introduced in June 2021 as an emergency temporary standard, aimed to protect healthcare workers from occupational exposure to the virus.
According to a recent press release, public comments and hearings on the proposed rule continued through mid-2022, resulting in OSHA submitting a draft version to the White House Office of Management and Budget in December of that year. However, with President Biden's signing of House Joint Resolution 7 in April 2023, the COVID-19 national emergency officially ended, reducing the urgency of specific pandemic-related regulations.
The move demonstrates OSHA's intent to address comprehensive infectious disease risks rather than continuing to focus solely on COVID-19. The agency views this broader approach as “the most effective and efficient use of the agency’s resources” to ensure the long-term safety of workers from numerous health threats in the healthcare setting. OSHA's decision underscores evolving federal strategies to address workplace health risks as the pandemic subsides.
Further information about the decision can be found in the Federal Register.
About the author
Robert Yaniz Jr. is the content editor of Occupational Health & Safety.