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Advocacy Alert - OSHA COVID-19 Focused Inspection Initiative in Healthcare

On Dec. 27, 2021, OSHA announced its decision to withdraw its Health Care COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS), and at that time the agency indicated it would work toward the development of a permanent health care standard.  Last week the agency issued a memorandum providing instructions and guidance to Federal OSHA Area Offices for a highly focused, short-term inspection initiative directed at hospitals and skilled nursing care facilities that treat or handle COVID-19 patients. OSHA’s goal is to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and future variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and ensure the health and safety of healthcare workers at heightened risk for contracting the virus.

The intent of this initiative is to magnify OSHA’s presence in high-hazard healthcare facilities over a three-month period (March 9, 2022 to June 9, 2022), to encourage employers in these industry sectors to take the necessary steps to protect their workers against the hazards of COVID-19.

Please click here for the full memorandum and for detailed information on criteria and procedures the agency will follow.