The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has released a draft of a new proposed standard for employees exposed to tuberculosis (TB). The proposed standard would affect approximately 5.3 million workers involved in:

• hospitals homeless shelters long term care facilities detention facilities some laboratories social service agencies law enforcement home health home-based hospice care
• emergency medical services

Major components of the standard are:1. a written policy covering exposure reduction;
2. an education program for workers;
3. engineer controls, such as negative pressure rooms;
4. annual and post-exposure TB skin testing;
5. personal protective equipment, including respirators;
6. recordkeeping to support implementation of the program.A less stringent standard would be applied in counties and institutions where the risk of TB infection is low. The requirement for a respirator for exposed workers would result in:

• the necessity of starting a respirator program, including medical surveillance and clearance; education and training; respirator fit testing, and
• record keeping.

Respirators would be required for workers who:

• enter isolation rooms in use for TB or possible TB patients; workers performing procedures on TB patients who are not masked; individuals who transport infected individuals in an enclosed vehicle; HVAC workers who may be exposed;
• individuals who care for a suspected or confirmed TB case in a residence.

The release of the proposed standard has been delayed because of concerns in Congress over the cost of implementing such a program. Public hearings are scheduled to begin in February 1998.

For more information about how you can make your work area a better place to stand, call OccNet at 1-513-585-9400 to set up an appointment to help keep your work place a safe and comfortable one in which to work.

The occupational health specialists of Alliance Health for Business, working with other Health Alliance network providers, place a strong emphasis on prompt and appropriate return-to-work. To find out more about Alliance Health for Business services, call 513-585-9400.