The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is seeking comment about proposed recommendations that employers protect employees during an influenza pandemic by stockpiling respirators and facemasks.
OSHA’s proposed guidance offers private-sector and government employers recommendations and a method for calculating workplace needs for respirators and facemasks, the agency said in a statement.
For example, the guidance outlines different levels of employee influenza risk—based on such factors as industry and job type—and suggests the appropriate level of equipment for each level.
The recommendations supplement OSHA’s “Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for an Influenza Pandemic” document, which was released last year.
OSHA is accepting comments until July 8. The guidance is available at www.osha.gov/dsg/guidance/stockpiling-facemasks-respirators.html. Comments can be submitted electronically at www.regulations.gov.
Filed by Meg Fletcher of Business Insurance, a sister publication of Workforce Management. To comment, e-mail editors@workforce.com.
