OSHA Considering Rule|on Infection Exposure

WASHINGTON (CN) – The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is holding a meeting to discuss the possibility of proposing a rule to protect workers from exposure to infectious diseases.     The discussion will include direct patient care and other work tasks, such as providing patient support services (e.g., housekeeping, facility maintenance); handling, transporting, receiving or processing infectious items or wastes (e.g., transporting medical specimens, disposing of medical waste); conducting autopsies or performing mortuary services; and performing tasks in laboratories.     Whether and to what extent there are other settings where an OSHA standard should apply, also will be discussed.     Two meetings will be held in Washington, DC July 29. Potential participants should request a confirmed spot by July 22.     Click the document icon for this regulation and others.