Standards

This section highlights OSHA standards in nursing and residential care facilities. It also offers information regarding specific State Legislation on safe patient handling.

The General Duty Clause of the OSH Act (the law that created OSHA) requires employers to provide workers with a safe workplace that does not have any known hazards that cause or are likely to cause death or serious injury. Twenty-five states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands have OSHA-approved State Plans and have adopted their own standards and enforcement policies. For the most part, these States adopt standards that are identical to Federal OSHA. However, some States have adopted different standards applicable to this topic or may have different enforcement policies.

• California. A-1136 safe patient handling legislation signed into law October 2011.
  
  
• Illinois
  
  
• Maryland [33 KB PDF, 2 pages]. SB 879 safe patient handling legislation signed into law April 2007.
  
  
• Minnesota. HB 712.2 safe patient handling legislation signed into law May 2007.
  
  
• New Jersey [38 KB PDF, 7 pages]. S-1758/A-3028 safe patient handling practice act signed into law January 2008.
  
  
• New York. Companion bills A11484 and A07836 and S05116 and S08358 were signed into law on October 18, 2005.
  
  
• Ohio. House Bill 67 was signed into law on March 21, 2006, Section 4121.48.
  
  
• Rhode Island [14 KB PDF, 5 pages]. House 7386 and Senate 2760 passed on July 7, 2006.
  
  
• Texas. Senate Bill 1525 was signed into law on June 17, 2005.
  
  
• Washington [23 KB PDF, 8 pages]. House Bill 1672 was signed into law on March 22, 2006.
  

Frequently Cited Standards

Nursing homes and personal care facilities must comply with all the General Industry standards (29 CFR 1910). Of these, the following standards, in order, were the most frequently cited by Federal OSHA from October 2010 through September 2011, in Nursing and Personal Care Facilities Industry Group (SIC code 8050).

• 1910.1030, Bloodborne pathogens [related topic page]
• Appendix A, Hepatitis B vaccine declination (Mandatory)
  
  
• 1904.29, Forms (Recordkeeping Forms and Recording Criteria) [related topic page]
  
  
• 1904.7, General recording criteria (Other OSHA injury and illness recordkeeping requirements)
  
  
• 1910.1200, Hazard communication [related topic page]
• Appendix A, Health hazard definitions (Mandatory)
• Appendix B, Hazard determination (Mandatory)
• Appendix E, Guidelines for employer compliance (Advisory)
  
  
• 1910.303, General Requirements (Electrical) [related topic page]
  
  
• 1904.32, Annual summary (Other OSHA injury and illness recordkeeping requirements)
  
  
• 1910.305, Wiring methods, components, and equipment for general use
  
  
• 1910.151, Medical services and first aid [related topic page]
  
  
• 1910.37, Maintenance, safeguards, and operational features for exit routes [related topic page]
  
  
• 1910.132, Personal Protective Equipment [related topic page]

Note: Twenty-five states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands have OSHA-approved State Plans and have adopted their own standards and enforcement policies. For the most part, these States adopt standards that are identical to Federal OSHA. However, some States have adopted different standards applicable to this topic or may have different enforcement policies.

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