The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has announced a new National Emphasis Program (NEP) (pdf) that sets forth the policies and procedures for targeting and addressing occupational illnesses and injuries most commonly experienced in nursing and residential care facilities. As described in the NEP, these hazards include ergonomic stressors relating to resident handling; exposure to blood and other potentially infectious materials; exposure to tuberculosis; workplace violence; and slips, trips, and falls. The NEP discusses each of these areas and provides guidance to OSHA compliance staff on how best to conduct investigations to assess potential hazards. OSHA’s NEPs are designed to focus on specific hazards in a particular industry for a three-year period. Continue reading this entry at Littler's Washington DC Employment Law Update.