OSHA Reopens TB Rulemaking
OSHA reopened the tuberculosis (TB) rulemaking record and is seeking public comment on issues related to homeless shelters, medical waste treatment facilities, and other occupational exposures to the disease. The record will remain open until Aug. 2 for comment on OSHA's report about tuberculosis control practices in homeless shelters and a National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) evaluation on occupational exposure to tuberculosis from processing medical wastes. The agency also placed into the record three documents that address respiratory protection against TB, and one article that outlines specific guidelines created by the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine to protect health care workers against the disease.
The proposed standard to regulate occupational exposure to tuberculosis was first published on Oct. 17, 1997. The agency estimates the standard will help protect 5.3 million workers in more than 100,000 hospitals, homeless shelters, long-term care facilities for the elderly, detention facilities, and other work settings with a high risk of TB infection.
During the proposal's development, OSHA staff and others considered how a TB standard would effect homeless shelters, given the unique characteristics of both the workforce and the client population, as well as the non-profit nature of most homeless shelters. OSHA initiated a study to examine these issues further through an on-site survey of homeless shelters. The results of this study were not available to the agency until after the original public comment period had closed.
Public hearing testimony noted potentially significant exposures at medical waste treatment facilities handling medical wastes that had not been decontaminated before coming to the facility. At the time of the hearings, NIOSH was conducting a Health Hazard Evaluation at a medical waste treatment facility to evaluate such exposure. That final evaluation was completed after the close of the public comment period. OSHA is also seeking additional information and comment on the feasibility of including TB and AIDS clinics, parole and probation officers, and all social service workers within the scope of a final standard.
The entire TB rulemaking record, including the new documents, is available for review and copying at OSHA's Docket Office, Room N-2625, OSHA, US Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20210. The Docket Office phone number is 202-693-2350.
People wishing to comment on the new documents should send their comments to the Docket Office and specify they are for Docket No. H-371. Comments of 10 pages or less may be transmitted via fax to 202-693-1648. Comments may also be submitted electronically via OSHA's web site: http://www.osha-slc.gov/e-comments/e-comments-tb.html. Information such as studies and journal articles cannot be attached to electronic submissions but should be mailed to the Docket Office with the respondent's electronic submission by name, date, and subject.