OSHA Terminates COVID-19 Rule

Alliance Daily

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced the termination of the Occupational Exposure to COVID-19 in Healthcare Settings Final rule.

On June 21, 2021, OSHA adopted a Healthcare Emergency Temporary Standard (Healthcare ETS) protecting workers from COVID-19 in settings where they provide healthcare or healthcare support services. The ETS expired on December 21, 2021, however, at that time OSHA announced that it intends to continue to work expeditiously to issue final standards that will protect healthcare workers from COVID-19 hazards.

OSHA submitted a draft final COVID– 19 rule to the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) on December 7, 2022. However, on April 10, 2023, President Biden terminated the national emergency related to the COVID–19 pandemic.

In keeping with OSHA’s intent to develop broader infection disease standards to protect healthcare workers, OSHA developed a proposed rule that builds on the COVID-19 standards. The Infectious Diseases proposed rule cleared OMB on January 14, 2025.