Infectious diseases proposed rule reaches OMB for review

OSHA’s infectious diseases proposed rule reached the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review on November 8. OMB review typically takes 90 to 120 days; this is followed by publication in the Federal Register and a public comment period.

The proposed rule seeks to protect employees in healthcare and other high-risk environments (such as emergency response, correctional facilities, and drug treatment programs) from exposure to pathogens that can cause significant infectious disease. This includes both long-standing infectious disease hazards such as tuberculosis, Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA), and measles, as well as new and emerging infectious disease threats, such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), and pandemic influenza.