Green Valley Safety is a national safety-consulting and training company, has issued an Industry Alert to assist healthcare employers in meeting respiratory compliance in the wake of the designation of H1N1 Influenza, commonly referred to as Swine Flu, as a Pandemic. There are approximately "30 million healthcare workers are now subject to OSHA Respiratory Compliance requirement."
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) published the "Pandemic Influenza Preparedness and Response Guidance for Healthcare Workers and Healthcare Employers" in 2007. This guide detailed the direct need for healthcare employers to establish a comprehensive respiratory protection program that includes all of the elements outlined in its standards. "Every healthcare employer must be aware," he said. "Once exposure has been declared as a Pandemic, employers must have the protection program in place because OSHA will then be able to enforce the respiratory protection standard under the General Duty Clause. Guidelines for healthcare employers on what they must do and can be obtained at: http://www.oshamedcert.com/docs/RespiratoryProtection.pdf.
For help with the OSHA regulations and respirator training and fit tests. Email: hsjones75@hotmail.com
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