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Tuberculosis: Prevention and Control

25 minutesEN / ESHealthcare & Patient SafetyOSHA Directive CPL 02-02-078; 29 CFR 1910.134 (Respiratory Protection); CDC TB Guidelines
Quick Answer

Tuberculosis: Prevention and Control is a 25-minute online course that covers tuberculosis (TB) infection control procedures in the workplace as addressed by OSHA Directive CPL 02-02-078, the Respiratory Protection Standard (29 CFR 1910.134), and CDC guidelines for preventing TB transmission in healthcare settings. It is designed for healthcare workers, correctional facility staff, laboratory personnel, and other employees in high-risk settings, and includes a downloadable certificate of completion.

Course Overview

Tuberculosis remains one of the top ten causes of death worldwide, and workers in healthcare, correctional facilities, laboratories, and other high-risk settings face elevated occupational exposure. The CDC reported approximately 9,600 TB cases in the United States in recent years, with healthcare personnel at particular risk due to shared airspace with infected patients. OSHA enforces TB protections through Directive CPL 02-02-078, which references the CDC's 2005 Guidelines for Preventing the Transmission of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Health-Care Settings and applicable OSHA standards including the Respiratory Protection Standard (29 CFR 1910.134) and the General Duty Clause. Employers who fail to implement adequate TB infection control programs face citations under these standards, with serious violations carrying penalties of up to $16,550 and willful violations up to $165,514.

This course trains your employees to understand TB transmission, recognize the symptoms of active TB disease and latent TB infection, and implement the administrative, environmental, and respiratory protection controls that prevent workplace transmission. Your team will learn how to conduct risk assessments, follow proper isolation and ventilation procedures, use NIOSH-approved N95 respirators correctly, and participate in TB screening and testing programs. The training integrates OSHA requirements, CDC recommendations, and practical workplace protocols to give your employees a complete understanding of their role in TB prevention and control.

What You'll Learn

  • How Mycobacterium tuberculosis is transmitted through airborne droplet nuclei and the conditions that increase exposure risk
  • The difference between latent TB infection (LTBI) and active TB disease, including symptoms and progression
  • OSHA Directive CPL 02-02-078 and its requirements for employer TB infection control programs
  • Administrative controls including TB risk assessments, early identification of symptomatic individuals, and isolation procedures
  • Environmental controls including airborne infection isolation rooms, ventilation requirements, and HEPA filtration
  • Respiratory protection requirements under 29 CFR 1910.134, including NIOSH-approved N95 respirator use and fit testing
  • TB screening and testing protocols including tuberculin skin tests (TST) and interferon-gamma release assays (IGRA)
  • CDC guidelines for healthcare settings and updates to screening recommendations for healthcare personnel

Who Needs This Training

  • Healthcare workers in hospitals, clinics, dental offices, and outpatient facilities where patients with TB may be encountered
  • Correctional facility staff who work in settings with elevated TB transmission risk among incarcerated populations
  • Laboratory personnel who handle clinical TB specimens or cultures of Mycobacterium tuberculosis
  • Emergency medical technicians and paramedics who transport patients with known or suspected TB
  • Housekeeping and maintenance workers in healthcare settings who may enter rooms where TB patients have been treated
  • Infection control officers responsible for developing and maintaining TB prevention programs

Regulatory Background

OSHA does not have a standalone TB-specific standard, but enforces tuberculosis protections through multiple existing regulations and Directive CPL 02-02-078, updated in June 2015. This directive establishes OSHA's enforcement procedures for occupational TB exposure in healthcare settings - defined broadly to include hospitals, clinics, correctional facilities, laboratories, dental offices, and any setting where workers may share airspace with persons who have TB disease. OSHA standards that apply to TB hazards include the Respiratory Protection Standard (29 CFR 1910.134), which requires employers to provide and maintain a respiratory protection program including NIOSH-approved N95 respirators for TB exposure; the PPE Standard (29 CFR 1910.132); and the General Duty Clause, Section 5(a)(1) of the OSH Act. Employers must conduct risk assessments as recommended by the CDC, implement administrative and environmental controls based on the risk level of their setting, and provide worker education and training on TB relevant to employees' duties. Serious violations carry penalties of up to $16,550, and willful violations can reach $165,514. CDC updated its healthcare personnel screening recommendations in 2019, eliminating routine annual testing for most settings, and OSHA has indicated it will incorporate updated CDC guidance into future directive revisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

OSHA does not have a standalone TB standard. Instead, the agency enforces TB protections through Directive CPL 02-02-078 (updated June 2015), which references the CDC's 2005 Guidelines for Preventing the Transmission of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Health-Care Settings. Applicable OSHA standards include the Respiratory Protection Standard (29 CFR 1910.134), the PPE Standard (29 CFR 1910.132), and the General Duty Clause. Together, these create a comprehensive enforcement framework for TB in the workplace.
OSHA's directive broadly defines healthcare settings to include any setting where workers may share airspace with persons who have TB disease or handle clinical TB specimens. This includes hospitals, outpatient clinics, dental offices, correctional facilities, homeless shelters, long-term care facilities, laboratories processing TB cultures, and emergency medical transport. Employers in these settings must conduct a risk assessment and implement controls based on the risk classification of their specific operation.
The minimum acceptable level of respiratory protection for TB exposure is a NIOSH-approved N95 filtering facepiece respirator. Employers must comply with OSHA's Respiratory Protection Standard (29 CFR 1910.134), which requires a written respiratory protection program, medical evaluations, fit testing, and training. In higher-risk situations identified through a risk assessment, a powered air-purifying respirator (PAPR) may be necessary.
In 2019, the CDC updated its recommendations to eliminate routine annual TB testing for healthcare personnel in settings not classified as having ongoing transmission. OSHA has acknowledged these updated recommendations and indicated that employers may follow the 2019 CDC guidance provided they also comply with all other elements of their state and local requirements. However, baseline screening upon hire and testing after known exposures remain required. Employers should monitor OSHA and CDC guidance for further updates.
OSHA can cite employers under the Respiratory Protection Standard, PPE standards, or the General Duty Clause for failing to protect workers from TB exposure. Serious violations carry penalties of up to $16,550 per violation. Willful or repeated violations can result in fines up to $165,514. Common citation triggers include failure to implement a respiratory protection program, failure to conduct fit testing, inadequate risk assessments, and failure to provide worker education on TB hazards.
$24.95
per person
Volume Pricing
Team Size Price per Person
1 - 9$24.95
10 - 24$19.95
25 - 49$17.95
50 - 99$17.50
Subtotal $24.95
Language

This course is available in English and Spanish at no additional charge.

Certificate of completion included. Downloadable upon passing the final assessment.

$24.95
per person