OSHA issues respiratory protection guidance for long-term care facilities

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration on Friday issued respiratory protection guidance for those working in nursing homes, assisted living and other long-term care facilities.

 

The guidance describes various control measures, including cloth face coverings, facemasks, and authorized surgical masks, and urges employers to “reassess their engineering and administrative controls, such as ventilation and practices for physical distancing, hand hygiene, and cleaning/disinfecting surfaces, to identify changes that could avoid over-reliance on respirators and other personal protective equipment,” according to a statement.

 

“In light of the essential need for adequate supplies of respirators during the coronavirus pandemic,” OSHA is also temporarily allowing for “some enforcement flexibility regarding respirators,” according to the statement.

 

More insurance and workers compensation news on the coronavirus crisis here.