1. Question: Does OSHA forbid open-toed shoes in medical and dental offices?

Answer:  No.  OSHA has no foot covering laws for healthcare.  We have to apply principles established for general safety.  If hazardous chemicals or contaminated sharps may be dropped on the employees' feet, the employees may not wear open-toed shoes, fabric shoes, or sandals.  Management may choose to set a dress code stricter than the OSHA guidelines.

2.  Question: Does OSHA forbid lit candles or personal heaters in the workplace?

Answer:  No.  The local fire marshal may.

3.  Question: Does OSHA require employers in outpatient healthcare to perform PPD skin testing for TB for their employees?  If so, how often?

Answer:  It depends on the risk category of the practice.  Please do your own annual risk assessment using the tools in the OSHA Manual.  If you are in the Minimal Risk or Very Low Risk categories, you are not required to do annual TB skin testing.

All healthcare workers in states with higher rates of TB should certainly do initial skin tests on all new hires.

NOTE:  OSHA recently decided to withdraw its proposed TB Standard  and will continue to enforce the 1994 TB guidelines from the CDC, using the General Duty clause.   For more information on this issue, please refer to www.osha.com or contact your state OSHA office.