Health Organizations Petition Safety Agencies to Issue Occupational COVID-19 Guidance
The American Industrial Hygiene Association joined with eight other organizations to call on OSHA and the CDC to create coronavirus guidelines.
- By Nikki Johnson-Bolden
- Feb 12, 2021
The American Industrial Hygiene Association has endorsed recommendations for several federal safety agencies to create specific guidelines relating to COVID-19 for workers.
The AIHA is calling for the creation of these guidelines along with eight other scientific organizations with a document called the Joint Consensus Statement. OSHA, the CDC and NIOSH are among the agencies that the AIHA names in reference to the absence of coronavirus guidelines. The agency notes that the CDC and World Health Organization have not adapted their coronavirus protection guidelines for workers since October 2020.
“As businesses open and workers across many industries return to work, the time is now for our federal agencies to establish complete guidelines addressing worker safety,” said Lawrence D. Sloan, AIHA CEO.
The Joint Consensus Statement summarizes the information that is already known by occupational health professionals about COVID-19. The document lays out calls for research, regulation and funding for prevention tactics in the workplace.
One of the statement’s demands is that OSHA issue a temporary emergency standard for COVID-19—a popular sentiment among safety professionals. The statement also reflects the desire for federal funding for state, local and professional workplace safety programs and increased research funding for NIOSH.
About the Author
Nikki Johnson-Bolden is an Associate Content Editor for Occupational Health & Safety.