January 5, 2004—The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently announced it is extending the same high level of respiratory protection to workers exposed to tuberculosis (TB) that is provided to workers throughout general industry. This enhancement results from OSHA’s decision to withdraw its 1997 proposal on tuberculosis.
According to OSHA, the number of TB cases in the US has declined by more than 40% since 1993 due largely to guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Therefore, OSHA has decided it is appropriate to let CDC continue its successful work, and to focus OSHA resources on reducing workplace hazards not being addressed through other control efforts.
With OSHA’s withdrawal of the TB proposal, the agency will begin applying the general industry respiratory protection standard for protection against the disease. New requirements include updating the facility’s respirator program, complying with amended medical evaluation requirements, annual fit testing of respirators, and some training and recordkeeping provisions. Enforcement of the new requirements will be phased in to allow affected employers to come into compliance.
