Oh No, Here Comes the Flu, OSHA to the Rescue

OSHA Offers Workplace H1N1 Assistance for Workers, Employers

Common sense fact sheets promoting safety during the current H1N1 influenza outbreak was issued for employers and workers by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

The fact sheets inform employers and workers about ways to reduce the risk of exposure to the 2009 H1N1 virus at work. Separate fact sheets for health care workers, who carry out tasks and activities requiring close contact with 2009 H1N1 patients, contain additional precautions.

“Protecting our nation’s workers is OSHA’s top priority,” said Jordan Barab, the agency’s acting assistant secretary. “These fact sheets are tools we have developed to help ensure America’s workers stay healthy and our businesses remain viable. OSHA’s new fact sheets will help all employers identify appropriate actions to protect their workers.”

OSHA’s “Workplace Safety and H1N1” Web site provides easy to understand information appropriate for all workplaces and more extensive guidance for those involved in higher risk health care activities. The fact sheets are advisory in nature and informational in content.

As new information about the 2009 H1N1 virus becomes available, these workplace fact sheets will be updated. Employers and workers should review OSHA’s http://www.osha.gov/h1n1site often to ensure they have the most up-to-date information when making decisions about their operations and planning. (workersxzcompxzkit)

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, OSHA’s role is to promote safe and healthful working conditions for America’s working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, outreach and education. For more information about the agency, visit http://www.osha.gov.

Author Robert Elliott,executive vice president, Amaxx Risks Solutions, Inc. has worked successfully for 20 years with many industries to reduce Workers’ Compensation costs, including airlines, health care, manufacturing, printing/publishing, pharmaceuticals, retail, hospitality and manufacturing. He can be contacted at: Robert_Elliott@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com or 860-553-6604.

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