On March 1st the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) formally convened a Small Business Advocacy Review (SBAR) panel to obtain feedback about a possible future rule relating to prevention of workplace violence in healthcare and social assistance settings. OSHA has not formally issued a proposed rule at this stage, but it has developed a framework relating to workplace violence prevention – specifically, violence perpetrated by patients, clients, and visitors toward employees – that shows its thinking about what a proposed rule could include in the future. OSHA’s initial framework would apply to a wide range of healthcare and aging services settings, including home health agencies, assisted living, life plan communities, and nursing homes. The initial framework also includes a category called “social assistance” settings, which appears to include adult day services. The panel is made up of staff from OSHA, the Small Business Administration, and the White House Office of Management and Budget. Representatives of small businesses and small governmental jurisdictions will also participate – a group that will include several representatives of aging services providers, including a LeadingAge member. The SBAR panel will hold meetings in March 2023 and generate a report by May 1. Any interested parties may submit comments to OSHA, and LeadingAge will seek input from our members about the issues and alternatives OSHA is considering. We will provide additional information and analysis soon.
