OSHA checks out new TB guidelines
Hospital Safety Connection, February 8, 2006
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Officials from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) are reviewing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) new tuberculosis (TB) guidelines to see how well they mesh with worker safety standards.
In particular, OSHA wants to know how the CDC's provisions compare to those of OSHA's general respiratory standard, acting OSHA head Jonathan Snare said to reporters during a press call on February 6.
One big gap between the two agencies concerns TB fit-testing, with OSHA requiring yearly fit-tests and the CDC calling for periodic follow-up testing after an initial fit-test.
For fiscal year 2006, which runs until September 30, Congress has prohibited OSHA from spending money to enforce annual fit-testing. That prohibition may change in future fiscal years.
Overall, though, "our position is pretty consistent with what the CDC is saying" when it comes to TB, Snare said.
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