Physicians employed by professional corporations are considered employees of that corporation. The corporation which employs these physicians may be cited by OSHA for violations affecting those physicians. The hospital where the physician practices may also be held responsible as the employer who created or controlled the hazard. Physicians who are sole practitioners or partners are not considered employees under the OSH Act; therefore, they are not covered by the protections of the standard. However, if a physician not employed by a hospital were to create a hazard to which hospital employees were exposed, it would be consistent with current OSHA policy to cite the hospital, the employer of the exposed employees, for failure to provide the protections of the Bloodborne Pathogens standard.
October 2018
Tags: OSHA, O.S.H.A.
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