OSHA to convene small business review panel on infectious diseases

On Wednesday June 4, OSHA announced that it will convene a Small Business Advocacy Review panel to choose representatives of small entities who will provide their perspectives on a possible Infectious Diseases standard. The SBAR panel will identify small business representatives potentially affected in order to obtain their advice and recommendations about the potential impacts of the Infectious Diseases rule. The panel's written report will be made publicly available.

OSHA is considering the need for a standard to ensure that employers establish comprehensive controls to protect workers from hazardous exposures to infectious diseases on the job. The rule is intended to cover a wide range of healthcare and related workplaces including: hospitals; ambulatory care centers; long-term and home health care facilities; laboratories, and medical waste handling facilities. Representatives of small entities, including small businesses, not-for-profit entities, and local governments involved in workplaces such as those listed above who are interested in participating should contact Charles McCormick by e-mail (McCormick.Charles@dol.gov) or by phone (202-693-1740).