OSHA Ends Pursuit of COVID-19 Standard for Healthcare, Shifts Focus to Broader Infectious Diseases Rule

OSHA has officially halted its efforts to establish a COVID-19-specific standard for healthcare settings, opting instead to focus on completing a more comprehensive infectious diseases rule. This decision reflects OSHA’s aim to better protect workers from a wide range of infectious diseases beyond COVID-19.

In its final rule published on January 15, OSHA explained, “The public health emergency is over, and any ongoing risk by COVID-19 or other coronavirus hazards faced by health care workers would be better addressed at this time in a rulemaking addressing infectious diseases more broadly.”

The Broader Scope of the Infectious Diseases Rule

The proposed infectious diseases rule covers hazards such as tuberculosis, MRSA, and influenza in addition to COVID-19. This standard will apply to healthcare facilities and other high-risk settings, including:

• Emergency response services
• Correctional facilities
• Homeless shelters
• Drug treatment centers
• Laboratories
• Pathologists, coroners, and medical examiners
• Mortuaries

OSHA emphasizes that this comprehensive approach will be a more efficient and effective use of resources compared to a COVID-19-specific standard.

A Shift from Temporary to Comprehensive Measures

“OSHA always intended for an infectious diseases standard for healthcare workers to supplant any COVID-19 health care standard,” the agency stated in the final rule. The COVID-19-specific rule was originally conceived as a temporary measure while a broader standard was under development.

If OSHA were to finalize a separate COVID-19 rule, additional reviews and updates would be required to ensure the standard aligns with current science. Instead, the agency is expediting its efforts to complete the broader infectious diseases rule, which has been under review by the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) since November 8.

Background on OSHA’s COVID-19 Efforts

OSHA issued an Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) for COVID-19 in healthcare in June 2021, following an Executive Order from President Joe Biden. The non-recordkeeping parts of the ETS were withdrawn in December 2021.

In response, petitions from organizations such as the American Nurses Association, National Nurses United, and others urged OSHA to establish a permanent COVID-19 standard. Many of these groups also advocated for a broader infectious diseases standard to protect workers from a wider range of hazards.

What’s Next?

OSHA’s commitment to a comprehensive infectious diseases rule demonstrates its dedication to ensuring workplace safety in both healthcare and other high-risk industries. For updates on regulatory changes and their impact on workplace safety, explore the resources offered by NASP and stay informed about OSHA’s ongoing initiatives.

By addressing multiple infectious hazards in one standard, OSHA aims to provide stronger and more sustainable protections for workers across various sectors.