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.
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