Join our mailing list to receive the latest updates and alerts Flag Subscribe

Question

What is all the buzz about Federal OSHA’s new COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standard for healthcare providers? 

Answer

The Federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued an Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) for the healthcare industry in response to the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The compliance deadline for the vast majority of the ETS’s sweeping requirements is July 5, 2021.

OSHA determined that existing standards and regulations, including laws related to employers’ general duty of care, were inadequate to address the ongoing hazards to healthcare employees stemming from COVID-19. The scope of the ETS is broad and contains detailed and technical requirements related to, for example:

  • COVID-19 plans and procedures
  • Patient screening and management
  • Personal protective equipment
  • Cleaning and disinfection
  • Ventilation
  • Physical distancing and barriers
  • Training
  • Recordkeeping

In addition, the ETS obligates healthcare employers to conduct employee health screenings, make certain notifications of COVID-19 exposures, and take steps to remove employees from the workplace. The ETS also contains mandatory pay provisions for situations involving medical removal and vaccine side effects.

For more information, contact a member of the Employment Group.


View All: COVID-19 Employment Question of the Day

Jump to Page

Necessary Cookies

Necessary cookies enable core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility. You may disable these by changing your browser settings, but this may affect how the website functions.

Analytical Cookies

Analytical cookies help us improve our website by collecting and reporting information on its usage. We access and process information from these cookies at an aggregate level.