Sen. Gillibrand pushing to reestablish OSHA’s emergency COVID-19 protection

(WBNG) -- Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is teaming up with National Nurses United to bring attention to the Emergency Temporary Standard.

This OSHA backed initiative is aimed at protecting healthcare workers by requiring employers to identify and control COVID-19 in the workplace. Employers also have to provide access to personal protective equipment, adequate ventilation and notify employees of workplace exposure to COVID-19.

However, this emergency standard expired at the start of 2022 making healthcare workers concerned about working conditions.

“Nurses are in desperate need of continued federal standards to ensure we are protected” said the Executive Director of National Nurses United, Bonnie Castillo. “We can’t safely care for our patients if we are sick ourselves.”

According to Sen. Gillibrand’s office, healthcare workers have been forced to work in unsafe conditions since the emergency COVID-19 protection has expired.

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