OSHA, CDC Issue Zika Rules for Outdoor Workers

If presidential candidates ever debate actual policies, this would be a good start—today’s federal Zika rules, applicable to employers of outdoor workers. Republicans can make an argument that new rules raise costs, fail to address problems, and create more work for lawyers. Democrats can argue that employers are not proactive in protecting workers unless they are given specific legal duties, enforceable with sanctions.

Here, then is a summary, as reported by Reuters and Westlaw (quoting Julie Steenhuysen) :

Specifically, employers are asked to provide insect repellents and encourage their use, and to urge workers to wear clothing that protects their hands, arms, legs and other exposed areas. It also urges employers to consider providing workers with hats with mosquito netting to protect the face and neck.

The guidelines also call on employers to remove standing water from work sites to reduce mosquito breeding grounds. They also ask employers to consider reassigning female workers who are pregnant or may become pregnant and male workers whose partner is pregnant or may become pregnant to indoor jobs to reduce their risk of mosquito bites.

The guidelines encourage the workers themselves to wear insect repellant and protective clothing and to empty standing water on job sites.

For healthcare workers, the guidelines call for the use of standard infection control precautions to prevent exposure to Zika from infected blood.

For mosquito control workers, the guidelines urge them to follow the same precautions as for other outdoor jobs, and to use extra protective clothing when entering areas with dense mosquito populations. They also should follow standard precautions while handling insecticides.

Finally, for business travelers, the two agencies urge employers to allow flexibility in required travel to areas with active Zika transmission. In particular, it recommends delaying travel for pregnant women or those who may become pregnant or male workers with pregnant partners or partners who may become pregnant.