Which organization is responsible for infection control practices in the workplace?

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is the organization primarily responsible for ensuring workplace safety and health standards in the United States, which includes infection control practices. OSHA sets and enforces regulations to protect workers from health hazards, including exposure to infectious agents.

OSHA provides guidelines and regulations that help to minimize the risk of infection in the workplace through proper practices such as personal protective equipment use, safe handling of hazardous materials, and protocols for infection prevention. This is critical in various settings, particularly in healthcare environments, where the risk of exposure to infectious diseases is high.

While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) also contribute to public health guidelines and recommend practices that can influence infection control, they do not enforce regulations in the workplace like OSHA does. Similarly, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is focused on the safety and regulation of food, drugs, and medical devices, rather than directly overseeing workplace infection control.