Recently, we told you about an emergency temporary standard (ETS) issued by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to ensure the safety of healthcare workers—including your urgent care team—in the COVID-19 era. Since then, the ETS has been published in the Federal Register and the date for requiring compliance has been set at July 5. As a reminder the ETS mandates that:
- You conduct a hazard assessment and have a written plan to mitigate virus spread.
- You provide certain employees with N95 respirators or other personal protective equipment.
- Covered employers ensure 6 feet of distance between workers, with barriers erected where that distance is not possible.
- You give workers paid time off to get vaccinated and to recover from any related side effects.
For purposes of the ETS, a healthcare workplace is one in which “employees provide healthcare or healthcare support services…with some exemptions for healthcare providers who screen out patients who may have COVID-19.” For more information, consult the OSHA website here.
Update: The Time to Get Onboard with New OSHA COVID-19 Requirements Is Now