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DOL/OSHA

RIN: 1218-AB46

Publication ID: Spring 1997

Title: Occupational Exposure to Tuberculosis
Abstract: On August 25, 1993, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) was petitioned by the Labor Coalition to Fight TB in the Workplace to initiate rulemaking for a permanent standard to protect workers against occupational transmission of tuberculosis (TB). Although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have developed recommendations for controlling the spread of TB in several work settings (e.g., correctional institutions, health-care facilities, and homeless shelters), the petitioners stated that in every recent TB outbreak investigated by the CDC, noncompliance with CDC's TB control guidelines was evident. After reviewing the available information, OSHA has preliminarily concluded that significant risk of occupational transmission of TB does exist for some workers and has decided to initiate a standard 6(b) rulemaking. The Agency is currently developing a proposed rule which would require certain employers to take steps to eliminate or minimize employee exposure to TB. OSHA already regulates the biological hazard of bloodborne pathogens (e.g., HIV, hepatitis B) under 29 CFR 1910.1030 and believes that development of a TB standard is consistent with the Agency's mission and previous activity. ^POSHA is currently pursuing a dialog with parties outside of the Agency with regard to the developing proposal. The draft preliminary Risk Assessment has been peer-reviewed by four individuals with specific knowledge in the areas of tuberculosis and risk assessment. One reviewer is from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and three are from academia. In addition, OSHA has conducted stakeholder meetings with representatives of relevant professional organizations, trade associations, labor unions, and other groups. These meetings provided the opportunity for both general and frontline stakeholder representatives to present OSHA with their individual comments, observations, and concerns about the contents of the draft proposal. The draft proposal has also been reviewed and commented on by affected small business entities under the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 (SBREFA).
Agency: Department of Labor(DOL)	Priority: Economically Significant
RIN Status: Previously published in the Unified Agenda	Agenda Stage of Rulemaking: Proposed Rule Stage
Major: Yes	Unfunded Mandates: No
CFR Citation: 29 CFR 1910.1035
Legal Authority: 29 USC 655(b)

Timetable:

Action	Date	FR Cite
NPRM	04/00/1997

Additional Information: During the rulemaking, OSHA will meet with small business stakeholders to discuss their concerns, and will conduct an initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis to identify any significant impacts on a substantial number of small entities.
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes	Government Levels Affected: None
Small Entities Affected: Businesses, Organizations
Included in the Regulatory Plan: Yes
Agency Contact: Steven F. Witt Director, Directorate of Cooperative and State Programs Department of Labor 200 Constitution Avenue NW., Room N-3700, FP Building, Washington, DC 20210 Phone:202 693-2200 Fax:202 693-1671 Email: witt.steven@dol.gov