AOHC Encore 2023-312 Enforcement Guidance and Inspection Outcomes in Healthcare

Video Transcription

Video Summary

The video transcript provides information on the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) Coronavirus Disease 2019 National Emphasis Program (NEP). The NEP aimed to focus OSHA's enforcement efforts on hazardous conditions related to COVID-19 and employers engaging in retaliation against employees. The speakers discuss the enforcement guidance and inspection outcomes in healthcare settings, which were found to be most affected by the pandemic. OSHA updated its guidance based on the latest scientific information and issued compliance and enforcement guidance to assist employers. The NEP targeted 11 healthcare industries listed in Appendix A and involved inspections and citations for violations related to respiratory protection, hazard assessments, record-keeping, and more. The speakers also addressed the correlation between healthcare worker fatalities and violations of respiratory protection programs in the healthcare industry. They mentioned that OSHA considered local conditions and exercised enforcement discretion where necessary, taking into account factors such as access to masks and resources for fit testing. The speakers also highlighted ongoing OSHA rulemakings related to occupational medicine, such as infectious disease rules, workplace violence in healthcare, heat illness prevention, and more. While no definitive decisions were provided regarding the continuation of the NEP or future regulatory actions, OSHA emphasized the importance of good faith efforts by employers to protect their workers.

Keywords

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

Coronavirus Disease 2019 National Emphasis Program

enforcement efforts

healthcare settings

respiratory protection

hazard assessments

violations

healthcare worker fatalities

OSHA rulemakings

worker protection