AHA urges OSHA not to finalize COVID-19聽emergency temporary standard
The AHA today urged the Occupational Safety and Health Administration not to finalize its emergency temporary standard for occupational exposure to COVID-19, saying it continues to oppose establishing new regulations that are not fully aligned with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention鈥檚 evolving evidence-based guidance.
鈥淲ith the constantly evolving, science-based CDC guidance and recommendations, CMS鈥 vaccination requirement and existing OSHA general standards, we strongly believe that an inconsistent and overly strict OSHA COVID-19 health care standard is not necessary, would cause confusion and will ultimately lower hospital employees鈥 morale and worsen unprecedented personnel shortages in hospitals,鈥 AHA wrote. 鈥淚t is essential to a well-functioning health care system that only one set of science-based standards be applied to health care providers, and that these standards be aligned across federal agencies.鈥
OSHA last month additional comments on certain topics in its interim final rule, and announced an informal public hearing beginning April 27 to gather additional information from stakeholders as it develops a final rule.