The Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) permanent rule to help keep health-care workers from getting COVID-19 has been sent to the White House for review, the last step before an agency releases a rule. We've gathered articles on the news from SHRM Online and other media outlets.

History of Rule

OSHA issued a COVID-19 temporary standard for health care in June 2021 but stopped enforcing most of it in December 2021 when the agency did not meet a six-month deadline to issue a final version.

Hospital and nursing groups have opposed a permanent COVID-19 standard. They reason that they already must comply with Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) rules, including COVID-19 vaccinations for workers, and guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Health-care unions say a rule is needed to ensure medical providers are protecting workers.

The text of the regulation, sent Dec. 7 to the White House, hasn't been released. If the standard follows the prior temporary rule's requirements, it's likely to require employers to have infection protection programs and track workers' COVID-19 cases.

Republicans Oppose Permanent Standard

On Sept. 26, House Education and Labor Committee Republican Leader Virginia Foxx, R-N.C., and Workforce Protections Subcommittee Republican Leader Fred Keller, R-Pa., wrote OSHA Assistant Secretary Douglas Parker to oppose the agency's anticipated COVID-19 rule. "In light of President Biden's recent...

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