Healthcare facilities are addressed in specific standards for the general industry.

OSHA Standards

This section highlights OSHA standards, directives (instructions for compliance officers), and standard interpretations (official letters of interpretation of the standards) related to healthcare facilities.

The General Duty Clause of the OSH Act (the law that created OSHA) requires employers to provide workers with a safe workplace that does not have any known hazards that cause or are likely to cause death or serious injury. Twenty-five states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands have OSHA-approved State Plans and have adopted their own standards and enforcement policies. For the most part, these States adopt standards that are identical to Federal OSHA. However, some States have adopted different standards applicable to this topic or may have different enforcement policies.

• California. A-1136 safe patient handling legislation signed into law October 2011.
  
  
• Illinois
  
  
• Maryland [33 KB PDF, 2 pages]. SB 879 safe patient handling legislation signed into law April 2007.
  
  
• Minnesota. HB 712.2 safe patient handling legislation signed into law May 2007.
  
  
• New Jersey [39 KB PDF, 7 pages]. S-1758/A-3028 safe patient handling practice act signed into law January 2008.
  
  
• New York. Companion bills A11484 and A07836 and S05116 and S08358 were signed into law on October 18, 2005.
  
  
• Ohio. House Bill 67 was signed into law on March 21, 2006, Section 4121.48.
  
  
• Rhode Island [14 KB PDF, 5 pages]. House 7386 and Senate 2760 passed on July 7, 2006.
  
  
• Texas. Senate Bill 1525 was signed into law on June 17, 2005.
  
  
• Washington [23 KB PDF, 8 pages]. House Bill 1672 was signed into law on March 22, 2006.

Frequently Cited Standards

A listing of the most frequently cited standards by Federal OSHA for Health Services Industry Group (SIC 8000) is available.

Other Highlighted Standards

General Industry (29 CFR 1910)

• 1910.119, Process safety management of highly hazardous chemicals [related topic page]
  • Appendix A, List of highly hazardous chemicals, toxics and reactives (Mandatory)
    
    
• 1910.1030, Bloodborne pathogens [related topic page]
  
  
• 1910.1047, Ethylene oxide [related topic page]
  
  
• 1910.1048, Formaldehyde [related topic page]
  • Appendix A, Substance technical guidelines for formalin
  • Appendix B, Sampling strategy and analytical methods for formaldehyde
  • Appendix C, Medical surveillance - formaldehyde [related topic page]
    
    
• 1910.1096, Ionizing radiation [related topic page]
  
  
• 1910.1200, Hazard communication [related topic page]
  
  
• 1910.1450, Occupational exposure to hazardous chemicals in laboratories [related topic page]
  • Appendix A, National research council recommendations concerning chemical hygiene in laboratories (Non-mandatory)

Directives

• Enforcement Procedures for the Occupational Exposure to Bloodborne Pathogens. CPL 02-02-069 [CPL 2-2.69], (2001, November 27).
  
  
• Enforcement Procedures and Scheduling for Occupational Exposure to Tuberculosis. CPL 02-00-106 [CPL 2.106], (1996, February 9).
  
  
• Search all available directives.

Standard Interpretations

• Update: OSHA Enforcement Policy for Occupational Exposure to Tuberculosis. (1995, September 6).
  
  
• Most frequently asked questions concerning the bloodborne pathogens standard. (Updated 2011, November 1).
  
  
• Search all available standard interpretations.

Accessibility Assistance: Contact the OSHA Directorate of Technical Support and Emergency Management at (202) 693-2300 for assistance accessing PDF materials.