OSHA to Extend National Emphasis Program on Covid-19 (Correct)

OSHA soon will announce an extension of the agency’s National Emphasis Program for Covid-19, an enforcement initative initially adopted last year, while continuing to work on permanent standards for both its pandemic-related and general infectious disease regulations, agency chief Doug Parker said.

The US Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s difficulties in issuing a permanent health-care rule are due to “a lot of uncertainty in the rulemaking process,” such as alternative perspectives received during the comment period or possible hearing requests from Congress, Parker said at a conference Wednesday.

Average health-related rules usually take about seven years to complete, but the ...