The Cal/OSH Standards Board has started the public comment period on two new standards intended to protect a variety of workers from so-called "aerosol transmissible" diseases and infectious agents spread from animals.

Comments on the proposals, which would add new sections to the General Industry Safety Orders, culminate in a public hearing before the Standards Board Aug. 21 in Sacramento.

New GISO §5199 would control hazards from diseases such as tuberculosis and SARS, which are spread through respiratory secretions (coughing or sneezing) in health-care settings, correctional facilities, homeless shelters and drug-treatment programs, where workers are at increased risk of exposure. It also would apply to laboratories that handle materials that might be infectious, pathologists, coroner's offices, medical examiners and mortuaries handling possibly infected cadavers. Dental offices and certain clinics would be exempt from the regulation.

Employers would be required to establish control measures to protect employees from exposures. Under the standard, employers would be divided into three categories: "referring" employers, laboratory operations and employers who provide services to patients with airborne infectious diseases or perform aerosolizing procedures on cadavers that might be infected. It also would authorize the Division of Occupational Safety and Health chief to issue an order or take special action to compel compliance with the standard.

The other new regulation would add §5199.1, covering aerosol transmissible diseases, such as avian influenza, resulting from exposures to infected animals or animal products, with a graduated system of controls based on the level of disease hazard and type of operation.