Standards

This section highlights OSHA standards in nursing and residential care facilities. It also offers information regarding specific state legislation on safe patient handling.

General Duty Clause

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.

OSHA Standards

Frequently Cited Standards

OSHA maintains a listing of the most frequently cited standards for specified 6-digit North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes. Please refer to OSHA's Frequently Cited OSHA Standards page for additional information. For Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities) use NAICS code 623110 in the NAICS search box.

State Legislation

• California

  A-1136 safe patient handling legislation signed into law October 2011.
• Illinois

   
• Maryland

  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

  S-1758/A-3028 safe patient handling practice act signed into law January 2008.
• New York

  Title 1-A of Article 29-D, added to the Public Health Law by Chapter 60 of the Laws of 2014, Part A, §20
• Ohio

  House Bill 67 was signed into law on March 21, 2006, Section 4121.48. Repealed effective June 20, 2015.
• Rhode Island

  House 7386 and Senate 2760 passed on July 7, 2006.
• Texas

  Senate Bill 1525 was signed into law on June 17, 2005.
• Washington