OSHA says "no" to 80-hour workweek for residents

Some groups want federal legislation to set limits; the agency cites ACGME guidelines as the answer.

By Damon Adams, AMNews staff. Oct. 28, 2002.

A federal agency has rejected a petition filed by three groups asking it to restrict medical resident work hours. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration this month denied the petition, in part because "other knowledgeable groups are taking action to work on this problem," said OSHA Administrator John L. Henshaw.

The petition was filed April 30, 2001, by Public Citizen, the Committee of Interns and Residents and the American Medical Student Assn. They asked for limits of an 80-hour workweek for residents, one day off a week and work shifts no more than 24 hours long.

The petitioners claimed sleep-deprived residents were at increased risk of being in auto crashes, depresssion and giving birth to premature infants. They are pushing for federal legislation to set restrictions on resident hours and will keep up the fight.

"Our work will continue with federal legislation. That's the only way that real reform can come about," said Eric J. Hodgson, MD, national president of the American Medical Student Assn.

In June 2002, the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, which accredits about 7,800 residency programs in the United States, set new standards on resident work hours. It plans to enforce those rules beginning July 1, 2003. [...]