OSHA Reopens Docket on COVID-19 Healthcare Standard
Last week, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced that it would reopen its existing public comment docket for the COVID-19 healthcare Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) that expired on December 21, 2021. OSHA is seeking public comment for the promulgation of a permanent COVID-19 healthcare ETS.
OSHA is considering several changes to its original ETS including realigning the ETS with current U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations, assessing whether control measures are necessary “where healthcare employees are not reasonably expected to encounter people with suspected or confirmed COVID-19,” and tweaking the vaccination leave provision to require up to four hours of paid leave to receive vaccination. At this time, OSHA is not considering requiring mandatory vaccination for employees covered by the standard.
Comments on the proposed changes are due April 22, 2022 and can be submitted electronically at Docket No. OSHA-2020-0004. A public hearing on the interim final rule to establish the ETS will begin on April 27, 2022 at COVID-19 Healthcare Rulemaking.
Impact on General Dentistry: AGD continues to monitor developments related to OSHA’s workplace standards and their impact on dental practices and the delivery of dental care. AGD will respond to OSHA rulemakings accordingly.
OSHA is considering several changes to its original ETS including realigning the ETS with current U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations, assessing whether control measures are necessary “where healthcare employees are not reasonably expected to encounter people with suspected or confirmed COVID-19,” and tweaking the vaccination leave provision to require up to four hours of paid leave to receive vaccination. At this time, OSHA is not considering requiring mandatory vaccination for employees covered by the standard.
Comments on the proposed changes are due April 22, 2022 and can be submitted electronically at Docket No. OSHA-2020-0004. A public hearing on the interim final rule to establish the ETS will begin on April 27, 2022 at COVID-19 Healthcare Rulemaking.
Impact on General Dentistry: AGD continues to monitor developments related to OSHA’s workplace standards and their impact on dental practices and the delivery of dental care. AGD will respond to OSHA rulemakings accordingly.