OSHA GUIDANCE ON STOCKPILING OF RESPIRATORS AND FACEMASKS FOR PANDEMIC INFLUENZA IS OUT FOR COMMENT – READ BETWEEN THE LINES

It is time to take respiratory protection for you workers seriously, no matter what your industry. In a recently released guideline, OSHA clearly states that other industries besides hospitals have workers at risk and need to implement respiratory protection programs. Long term care, outpatient clinics, home healthcare, emergency medical services, law enforcement, corrections, and first responders all have workers at risk, and all need respirator training and fit-testing.

If you have not begun to fully implement your pandemic influenza respiratory protection program to include annual employee fit-testing, it is time to begin taking the OSHA regulations seriously. On May 9, 2008, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requested public comments on the Proposed Guidance on Workplace Stockpiling of Respirators and Facemasks for Pandemic Influenza document. Previously published regulations specify the attributes of a respiratory protection program.

The newly proposed guidance offers private sector and government employers with recommendations and a method for calculating workplace stockpiling needs for respirators and facemasks. This allows employers to better protect their employees and reduce the impact of a pandemic. This proposed guidance supplements the existing document Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for an Influenza Pandemic released last year.

The new document provides concise worker exposure risk categories and the types and numbers of facemasks, respirators, and Powered Air Purifying Respirators that would be appropriate for worker protection. And the guidelines are not limited to hospitals and nursing homes. Other workplaces are listed with very high, high, and medium risk workers and include outpatient clinics, home health care, law enforcement, and first responders.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing a safe and healthy workplace for their employees. OSHA's role is to promote the safety and health of America's workers by setting and enforcing standards; providing training, outreach, and education; and encouraging continual process improvement in workplace safety and health.

The regulations for respiratory protection can be overwhelming. The Environmental Performance Group has many years of experience and certified industrial hygienists trained in all aspects of respiratory protection AND infection control. EPG can help you develop programs and implement fit-testing in the most efficient and economic way to help you prepare your workers. Call anytime with questions and concerns. EPG can assist with any program.

To review the proposed guidelines go to;
http://www.osha.gov/dsg/guidance/stockpiling-facemasks-respirators.html

To review the request for comments go to;
http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=NEWS_RELEASES&p_id=16130

For assistance in developing your respiratory protection program, and performing fit-testing and training of your employees contact EPG at www.epgboston.com.