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News & Analysis | REG•WATCH Blog | Press Room
Friday, March 31, 2006
OSHA Continues Block Respirator Fit-Tests for TB
OSHA is continuing to advise its field officers not to enforce the annual respirator fit-test for tuberculosis that has been blocked in the FY 2004 and FY 2005 appropriations bills in a rider offered by Rep. Roger Wicker (R-MS.). This latest advisory is in conflict with a recent CDC report that recommended periodic fit-tests. While the language of the legislation itself blocked the fit tests, the accompanying text said OSHA should wait for the CDC report to decide. Two months after the report, in a memo published on the agency website Mar. 28, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary Steven Witt wrote that OSHA will continue to adhere to the appropriations language. According to BNA Daily Report for Executives (subscription-only):
Witt wrote that "even though the CDC guidelines have since been issued and do recommend periodic fit testing, OSHA will adhere to the language actually in the appropriations."
The agency in January said it was reviewing the CDC guidelines to see if the agency's compliance directive should be revised, an OSHA official told BNA Jan. 9.
The latest memo to the field said that there should not be any ongoing inspections or pending or recent citations relating to the annual fit testing of respirators used for TB.
Annual fit testing is a rather simple procedure that ensures that respirator protection (i.e. face masks) still fit properly on the faces of health workers. CDC has found that periodic fit testing is appropriate. What’s more puzzling about OSHA’s stance is that fit testing is still required for other respiratory diseases, such as SARS.
Posted by Genevieve Smith
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