In response to complaints, OSHA inspectors will ensure that healthcare employers implement a hierarchy of controls and encourage vaccination and other work practices recommended by the CDC.
OSHA issued a compliance directive on 11/20/09 to ensure uniform procedures when conducting inspections to identify and minimize or eliminate high to very high risk occupational exposures for healthcare workers to the 2009 H1N1 influenza A virus.
The uncertain severity and timing of this year’s flu activity means that schools, businesses, and workplaces need to prepare for higher absenteeism rates, along with cases of presenteeism—when someone goes to work or school while sick—leading to productivity declines and the possibility of spreading illness to others.
With cold and flu season upon us, spending time reviewing your HVAC system, its major components, and air and water distribution is time well spent to help mitigate the spread of type A (H1N1) and other types of Influenza.
The nurses requested assistance from the Cal/OSHA just after the World Health Organization re-classified H1N1 as an “unstoppable” Level 6 pandemic.