Cal/OSHA issues guidance for protecting healthcare employees from COVID

The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) has issued interim guidance for protecting healthcare employees in hospitals from exposure to SARS-CoV-2, according to an article on the Patient Safety and Quality Healthcare website.

The agency has also issued a guide to California’s Aerosol Transmissible Disease (ATD) standard California’s ATD standard requires that employers protect workers at healthcare facilities and other services and operations from airborne diseases like COVID-19 and tuberculosis, influenza and pertussis.

The standard’s requirements include written programs and procedures; engineering and work practice controls and training.

Work practice controls include:

• Cleaning and disinfecting work surfaces, tables, tools, instruments, and equipment frequently using EPA-approved products (List N) for use against COVID-19;
• Washing articles and linens after each use; and
• Implementing frequent hand-washing procedures and procedures for safe donning and doffing of PPE and respiratory protection equipment.

Read the article.