OSHA Targets Healthcare Workers and Coronavirus

Guidance describes measures that include face masks and surgical masks


OSHA has issued respiratory protection guidance focused on protecting workers in nursing homes, assisted living and other long-term care facilities from occupational exposure to the coronavirus. The action marks the department’s latest step to ensure the availability of respirators.

 

Source-control measures are recommended for everyone in healthcare facilities, even if the wearer does not have symptoms of the coronavirus. The guidance describes various source-control measures, including cloth face coverings, face masks, and FDA-cleared or authorized surgical masks. Healthcare providers should wear source control products/devices at all times while inside a LTCF, including in break rooms or other spaces where they might encounter other people.

 

Healthcare providers who are in close contact with a resident with suspected or confirmed coronavirus infection must use a NIOSH-approved N95 filtering facepiece respirator or equivalent or higher-level respirator, as required by OSHA’s Respiratory Protection standard.



November 20, 2020



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