Marking the federal government’s first move from a “recommendation” to a “requirement” posture in dealing with H1N1, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has announced that it will issue a compliance directive to enforce the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Interim Guidance on Infection Control Measures for 2009 H1N1 Influenza in Healthcare Settings

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, anticipating a spread of the H1N1 flu, has released new guidelines to help businesses and employers prepare now for the impact seasonal and H1N1 flu could have on employers, employees, and operations.

The guidelines urge employers to work with employees to develop and implement plans that can reduce