The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) have published "Interim Guidance on Protecting Workers from Occupational Exposure to Zika" (Interim Guidance). The Interim Guidance recommends several best practices for protecting outdoor workers, including:
- Informing workers about the risks of exposure and training them on how to protect themselves;
- Providing insect repellent and training workers on its proper use;
- Providing clothing to protect workers' sin from mosquito exposure; and
- Removing sources of standing water from outdoor work areas.
The Interim Guidance also gives best practices for healthcare and laboratory workers, including following good infection control and biosafety practices to prevent or minimize the risk of Zika transmission. It is not a regulation or standard and presents no new legal obligations. Instead, the Interim Guidance provides recommendations and descriptions of mandatory safety and health standards. Read more.