Advocacy

On October 20, in a letter to the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), ACOEM President Beth A. Baker, MD, FACOEM, urged that occupational medicine be identified as a distinct specialty separate from preventive medicine on the ACGME website.

ACOEM providesd comments to the National Academies on the Preliminary Framework for Allocation of COVID-19 Vaccine. The College endorses the intention to vaccinate occupational groups in phases based upon their role in maintaining health care and other essential services while also considering their risk of occupationally acquired infection. 
 

In response to the EPA’s supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking on “Strengthening Transparency in Regulatory Science, the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine expressed its concerns about the proposed rule. The College believes that this proposal is “inconsistent with the proper conduct of scientific inquiry, and we do not believe that additional burdensome peer-review steps are likely to strengthen confidence in the evidence base for new environmental regulations.”

The American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine has voiced its strong support for H.R. 6559, the COVID–19 Every Worker Protection Act of 2020. This act would direct OSHA to issue an Emergency Temporary Standard within 7 days of passage that sets requirements for how workplaces must safeguard all workers from exposure, to COVID-19 in the workplace.

The American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine is concerned that President Trump's decision to utilize the Defense Production Act to compel meat processing plants to remain open and functioning during COVID-19 will be used to shield meat processing plants from liability for the health and safety of their workers. 

ACOEM recommends that the White House reconsider its defunding of the World Health Organization and seek other ways in the U.S. can help support this vital organization.

In light of the failure to date to institute a proper ban on asbestos, ACOEM expresses support for H.R. 1603, Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now Act of 2019, which would prohibit the manufacture, processing, and distribution in commerce of asbestos and asbestos containing mixtures and articles. Urges that the U.S. House of Representatives leaders schedule the bill for floor consideration at the earlist possible time.

ACOEM requests provisions be included in next legislative coronavirus response package that directs OSHA to issue an emergency temporary standard within 7 days to protect workers, especially those in health care settings, from occupational exposure to COVID-19. Urges OSHA to issue a permanent standard to protect workers from occupational exposure to infectious pathogens, including novel pathogens.