The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is scrutinizing COVID-19 standards for healthcare workers in several states. The agency has cited concerns that several states have failed to adopt adequate standards within a 30-day deadline.
OSHA is planning to revoke state-plan approval in Arizona, South Carolina, and Utah because they have failed to adopt healthcare Emergency Temporary Standards (ETS). Leaders in those states have defended their safety plans and expressed intentions to sue the federal government when OSHA issues vaccine-or-tests mandates for private employers.
The healthcare ETS targets settings where COVID patients are treated, including nursing homes and assisted living facilities. Covered employers must conduct a hazard assessment and maintain a written plan to mitigate virus spread. They also must follow ETS protocols for masking, social distancing, and paying for time off related to vaccinations.
According to OSHA, the tailored standards enable the agency to help workers most in danger of contracting COVID. They also are designed to give employers the information they need to help protect everyone, including unvaccinated workers, and continue to prevent or limit the spread of COVID in the workplace.
