Twice each year federal agencies publish an agenda to identify regulations they plan to issue. This tool allows the public to follow key developments and identify the target dates by which an agency expects to complete a regulatory action. The agencies are not bound by these dates and delays often occur, but it is important to note them.

The U.S. Department of Labor’s most recent update, published July 5, does not forecast additional wage and hour related regulation, but it does show that OSHA may release two proposed rules by year’s end that would impact aging services providers:

• Proposed Rule on Infectious Diseases: OSHA identifies November 2024 as the target date for publication of a proposed rule that would update standards for protection of employees from exposure to infectious diseases, including  as TB, MRSA, COVID-19, and pandemic influenza.
• Proposed Rule on Workplace Violence: OSHA has also been working on proposal relating to acts of violence committed by patients, residents, and clients toward employees in health care and social assistance settings. The agency now identifies December 2024 as the target date for release of a proposed rule for public comment.

See this OSHA webpage for an overview of the issues and related resources, and this page for a summary of Small Business Review Panel conducted by OSHA as a preliminary step toward publication of a proposal. We will continue to monitor these regulatory developments.