The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has announced a proposed rule that would eliminate the final COVID-19-specific recordkeeping requirements for healthcare employers. These changes would effectively end the last remaining provisions of emergency standards established during the height of the pandemic to protect healthcare workers.
The proposed rule seeks to rescind existing mandates that require employers in healthcare settings to track and log COVID-19 cases in the workplace, a measure that has been in place since the agency issued its Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) for healthcare in 2021. This ETS was introduced as a response to widespread concerns over worker safety amid surging infection rates and limited protective resources.
OSHA’s decision reflects a broader trend toward easing pandemic-related restrictions as COVID-19 transitions from a public health emergency into a managed endemic condition. While several provisions of the ETS had already expired or been phased out, the recordkeeping requirements had remained in place due to their perceived role in ensuring early detection of workplace outbreaks and response planning.
If finalized, the rule change would relieve healthcare facilities of the obligation to log individual COVID-19 cases separately from other workplace injuries and illnesses under OSHA Form 300. However, employers would still be expected to comply with general recordkeeping and reporting requirements, and to continue following broader workplace safety regulations.
Healthcare industry groups have responded positively to the proposed change, citing reduced administrative burden and improved focus on overall workplace safety. Worker advocacy organizations, however, have expressed concern that removing such data tracking could hinder efforts to monitor potential risks to frontline employees.
The proposal is subject to a public comment period before a final decision is made. OSHA has not specified when the rule might be enacted, but officials emphasized that the agency remains committed to workplace safety and will continue to assess threats related to infectious diseases.
This development underscores the Biden administration’s shift in COVID-19 policy and may signal similar regulatory rollbacks in other sectors as federal agencies transition from emergency response to long-term mitigation strategies.
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