Final answer:
Congress modified OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogens Standard to enhance worker safety based on new knowledge, technological advancements, or changes in policy. Changes to regulations, such as the repeal of the 2000 ergonomics standard, demonstrate the dynamic nature of workplace safety laws in response to various factors. OSHA's mission is to continuously improve working conditions by updating standards like the Bloodborne Pathogens Standard to prevent workplace hazards.
Step-by-step explanation:
Congress modified the Bloodborne Pathogens Standard that was promulgated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to further protect workers from the risks associated with exposure to bloodborne pathogens. OSHA's role is to ensure safe working conditions by issuing standards, which includes conducting substantial public engagement and receiving comments before a standard can become an official rule. Over time, OSHA's standards are subject to change due to advancements in workplace safety knowledge, pressure from various industries, or shifts in public policy and federal law.
Moreover, an example of Congress altering an OSHA standard occurred with the 2000 ergonomics standard, which was repealed in 2001 via the Congressional Review Act, marking a significant legislative action against OSHA regulation. Generally, any modification of OSHA's standards, such as Bloodborne Pathogens, is aimed at improving worker safety, often in response to new information about risks or more effective safety practices. OSHA's wide range of standards cover everything from fall protection and trenching cave-ins to infectious disease prevention and chemical exposure, always with the intention of reducing workplace hazards.
It is through regulations like the Bloodborne Pathogens Standard that OSHA accomplishes its mission of assuring "safe and healthful working conditions" as evident from the guidelines that require employers to mitigate various workplace health and safety hazards.