On Thursday, the Department of Labor (DOL) announced an Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) on mandatory COVID-19 vaccines or testing. The ETS applies to businesses with 100 more employees and will go into effect on Jan. 4, requiring businesses to have their employees show vaccination status or start weekly COVID-19 testing.
Previously, an affiliation of 30 trade associations from across the construction industry raised concerns about the effect vaccine mandates will have on the industry in a letter sent to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Members of the Construction Industry Safety Coalition include Associated Builders and Contractors, Associated General Contractors of America, and the National Roofing Contractors Association. sent a letter to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration outlining why the construction industry should be exempt from the ETS.
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“. . . The COVID-19 pandemic has already created and accelerated a host of challenges for the construction industry, including a skilled workforce shortage, rising material costs, supply chain disruptions, job site shut-downs, additional health and safety protocols and new government regulations. The forthcoming ETS only adds to this long list of concerns," Ben Brubeck, ABC VP of Regulatory, Labor and State Affairs previously commented.
