OSHA GUIDANCE ON STOCKPILING RESPIRATORS AND FACEMASKS

VCAL (6/18/2008)

The Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) has issued proposed guidance on purchasing and stockpiling respirators and facemasks.  The guidance provides employers with recommendations and a methodology for calculating workplace stockpiling needs for respirators and facemasks in the event of an influenza pandemic. The proposed guidance may be found on OSHA's website and is supplementary to the existing Department of Labor/Health and Human Services guidance on preparing the workplace for an influenza pandemic that was released in February 2007.  AHCA/NCAL is responding with comments on the proposal.