Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Emergency Temporary Standards

On June 21, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) released Emergency Temporary Standards (ETS) to address exposure to COVID-19 to workers in healthcare settings. This healthcare ETS applies to skilled nursing facilities, assisted living communities and intermediate care facilities for individuals with intellectual disabilities (ICFs/IID). Compliance is required within 14 days (July 6) for most items and 30 days (July 21) for a few requirements  The ETS addresses many topics.  Examples include:

  • ​COVID-19 plan – The development and implementation of a written COVID-19 plan based on an assessment

  • ​Standard and Transmission-Based Precautions (in a​ccordance with CDC)

  • ​Patient screening and management​​

  • ​​​​Ventilation

  • ​C​leaning and disinfection
  • ​Health screening and medical management
  • ​Personal protective equipment (PPE)
  • ​Vaccination
  • ​Aerosol-generating procedures on a person with suspected or confirmed COVID-19
  • ​Reporting COVID-19 fatalities and hospitalizations to OSHA
  • ​Physical distancing
  • Anti-Retaliation
  • ​Physical barriers
  • ​​​Requirements implemented at no cost to employees
  • ​Recor​​dkeeping
  • ​​​Training​
  • ​​​​Mini Respiratory Protection Program


A webinar reviewing the ETS and the implications for AHCA/NCAL members is available on ahcancalED​. ​​​​
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