OSHA Releases COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standard

OSHA released its Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) related to COVID-19 on June 10, 2021. The ETS applies to all settings in which employees provide healthcare services or healthcare support services.

The ETS was developed in response to President Biden’s Executive Order directing OSHA to take actions to reduce the workplace risks of COVID-19 exposure to employees. The ETS addresses specific actions that should be taken and include:

• Development of a COVID-19 plan
• Implementation of a mini-respiratory protection plan
• Implementation of employee screening (sample provided)
• Appropriate cleaning and disinfection techniques
• COVID-19 logs
• Reporting of COVID-19 related in-patient hospitalizations and deaths
• Employee notifications of potential exposures

OSHA standards represent best practices in employee health and safety. LHA Trust Funds recommends that all healthcare organizations review the ETS and incorporate standards as applicable whether OSHA has jurisdiction in your organization or not.