OSHA first proposed tuberculosis standards in October of 1997 and has sought public comment on the issue a number of times in recent years -- but has failed to issue a final rule. Meanwhile, the number of TB cases increased in 20 states between 2000 and 2001, according to the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME).
In its most recent
regulatory agenda, which describes anticipated actions, OSHA indicates that it does not plan to move forward with the TB measures despite the fact that the disease continues to pose a threat to workers.
The proposed standards would have required employers to protect workers from TB in hospitals, homeless shelters, nursing homes and other high-risk facilities, through the use of specially ventilated isolation rooms and other airborne disease control measures. Such requirements would also provide protection against Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).
“As health care workers prepare for potentially fatal diseases such as SARS and the government’s bio-terrorism warnings, now is not the time to roll back on TB regulatory actions that could reduce the risk of exposure to workers and patients,” according to AFL-CIO President John Sweeney.