OSHA Issues Request for Comments on Draft Document Addressing the Protection of Hospital-Based First Receivers of Victims of Mass Casualty Incidents

WASHINGTON, D.C. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is inviting comment on its draft Best Practices for Hospital Based First Receivers of Victims from Mass Casualty Incidents Involving the Release of Hazardous Substances.

This document is designed to provide hospitals with practical information to assist them in developing and implementing emergency management plans that address the protection of hospital-based emergency department personnel during the receipt of contaminated victims from mass-casualty incidents occurring at locations other than the hospital. Among other topics, it covers victim decontamination, personal protective equipment, and employee training, and also includes several informational appendices.

To ensure that the widest possible audience has the opportunity to comment, OSHA has posted this final draft on its Web site for 30 calendar days or until Aug. 30, 2004. OSHA is interested in public comment regarding this document in order to gain input and insight from employers, employees, employee representatives, and other interested parties. OSHA encourages the public to comment on all aspects of this document. OSHA will consider these comments and will modify the document as the agency deems appropriate in order to assure that the Best Practices document is a useful product for hospitals and other medical providers.

All comments (electronic, facsimile, regular mail, express delivery, hand delivery, and messenger service) must be received by OSHA no later than Aug. 30, 2004.

OSHA permits electronic submission of comments through its Web site at http://ecomments.osha.gov. Supporting materials may be attached electronically or sent in hard copy format. If one would like to submit hard copies of additional materials to be associated with a comment submitted electronically, they should be sent, in triplicate hard copy, to the OSHA Docket Office at the address below. These materials must clearly identify the sender's name, date, subject, and docket number to enable the agency to attach them to the appropriate comments.

OSHA allows facsimile transmission of comments that are 10 pages or fewer in length (including attachments). Send these comments, identified with the docket number (i.e., GE2004-1), to the OSHA Docket Office at (202) 693-1648; hard copies of these comments are not required. Commenters may submit attachments to their comments, such as studies and journal articles, in triplicate hard copy to the OSHA Docket Office at the above address instead of transmitting facsimile copies of these materials. These materials must clearly identify the sender's name, date, subject, and docket number so that the Agency can attach them to the appropriate comments.

Via regular mail, express delivery, hand delivery, and messenger service: Submit three copies of comments (including attachments) to the OSHA Docket Office, Docket No. GE2004-1, Technical Data Center, Room N-2625, OSHA, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Ave., NW, Washington, D.C. 20210; telephone (202) 693-2350.

Source: OSHA