US Labor Department's OSHA issues compliance directive to address flu prevention for health care workers

/PRNewswire/ -- For the protection of frontline health care and emergency medical workers at high risk of infection, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) today issued a compliance directive to ensure uniform procedures when conducting inspections to identify and minimize or eliminate high to very high risk occupational exposures to the 2009 H1N1 influenza A virus.The directive, which closely follows the Centers for Disease Control's (CDC) guidance at http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu, is available online at https://www.osha.gov/OshDoc/Directive_pdf/CPL_02_02-075.pdf.

"OSHA has a responsibility to ensure that the more than nine million frontline health care workers in the United States are protected to the extent possible against exposure to the virus," said acting Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA Jordan Barab. "OSHA will ensure health care employers use proper controls to protect all workers, particularly those who are at high or very high risk of exposure."

In response to complaints, OSHA inspectors will ensure that health care employers implement a hierarchy of controls, and encourage vaccination and other work practices recommended by the CDC. Where respirators are required to be used, the OSHA Respiratory Protection standard must be followed, including worker training and fit testing. The directive also applies to institutional settings where some workers may have similar exposures, such as schools and correctional facilities.

The CDC recommends the use of respiratory protection that is at least as protective as a fit-tested disposable N95 respirator for health care personnel who are in close contact (within 6 feet) with patients who have suspected or confirmed 2009 H1N1 influenza.

Where respirators are not commercially available, an employer will be considered to be in compliance if the employer can show a good faith effort has been made to acquire respirators.

Where OSHA inspectors determine that a facility has not violated any OSHA requirements but that additional measures could enhance the protection of employees, OSHA may provide the employer with a hazard alert letter outlining suggested measures to further protect workers.

The 2009 H1N1 influenza is transmitted via direct or indirect person-to-person spreading of infectious droplets passed when an influenza patient coughs, sneezes, talks or breathes. Transmission occurs when expelled infectious droplets or particles make direct or indirect contact with the mucus membranes of the mouth, nose or eyes of an uninfected person. The OSHA directive and other guidelines show steps to eliminate the hazard.

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Nomination Guidelines for SBA 2010 Awards

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is seeking nominations for the 2010 Georgia Small Business Person of the Year and Small Business Champion awards.

Each year since 1963, the President of the United States has designated a National Small Business Week. The highlight of Small Business Week activities is the presentation of awards at the state and national levels. The 2010 Small Business Week celebration next year will honor the small business community's many contributions to the American economy and society. National Small Business Week will be observed May 23 – 29, 2010.

“You can be part of this celebration by nominating an outstanding small business owner or small business champion in your community for one of these awards,” said SBA Georgia District Director Terri Denison.

In Georgia, the SBA District Office selects the state’s 2010 Small Business Person of the Year. That individual will attend the national celebration in Washington, DC to compete for the National Small Business Person of the Year award. At this celebration, a national winner is selected from all the winners from across the country. Scott Blackstock, President of Tidal Wave Auto Spa of Thomaston, won the honor in 2009.

Small Business Champions of the Year award categories are for those who promote small business, including volunteering time and services to small business interests and groups. Champions may or may not be small business owners. Award categories include:

Minority Small Business Champion
Veteran Small Business Champion
Financial Services Champion
Home-Based Business Champion
Women in Business Champion
Small Business Exporter of the Year
Jeffrey Butland Award for Family-Owned Small Business of the Year
SBA Young Entrepreneur of the Year

Nomination packages must be received at the Georgia District Office in Atlanta on or before Friday, November 13, 2009. To find nomination guidelines and information for these and other awards visit the SBA Georgia web site: www.sba.gov/ga. Look under “Spotlight.”

Nominations may be mailed to Jim Hightower, Public Affairs, SBA Georgia District Office, 233 Peachtree St. NE, Suite 1900, Atlanta, GA 30303.
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