NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) Testimony on OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) Guidelines on Biotechnology to DOL (Department of Labor), by J. Donald Millar, August 1985

摘要

The testimony reviewed the position of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) concerning Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) proposed guidelines on biotechnology. In the guidelines OSHA stated that there was no evidence to warrant the issuance of new regulations specifically covering biohazards as workers would be adequately protected under already existing standards. NIOSH voices the feeling that it is not reasonable to expect that workers will be covered by provisions of a rule that has not been promulgated. It is also hard to predict how proposed changes in 29 CFR 1910.134 would affect the protection afforded to these workers. The second item concerns the use of Section 5(a) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act which states that each employer will provide a place of work free from recognized hazards, whereas many hazards present may not be recognized as such. Because research needs to indicate vast gaps in knowledge, NIOSH recommends that OSHA include, as part of their guidelines, requirements for increased industrial hygiene surveillance and medical monitoring.