Comments on: OSHA Won’t Enforce Covid Rules, Pending Court. Prepare Anyway

By: grannybunny

grannybunny — Fri, 19 Nov 2021 17:34:47 +0000

In reply to MariaRose. I don't blame the Administration for "jumping the gun" on the vaccine mandates. To the contrary, the reason America has had such an excessive number of COVID-19 cases and deaths is because our Government has been far too slow in coming up with a National process for testing, contact tracing and vaccinations, all of which are, still, far behind what other advanced countries are doing. The US currently has, approximately, 1,100 COVID deaths per day, the vast majority of which are totally unnecessary. This remains a genuine public health emergency. Who wants to be the last American to die a preventable COVID-19 death?

By: MariaRose

MariaRose — Thu, 18 Nov 2021 23:59:37 +0000

Look at Disney cruise lines as an example of what a private company can do to ensure safety protocols for both passengers and crew. OSHA rules are merely a guideline for safety precautions. But the workers better understand that what the employer puts a standard in place for employment does mean either comply or not continue working. There’s no infringement of personal rights merely choosing to stay or go if the requirements at work are not agreeable to personal desires. OSHA requirements are standard in all workplaces for safety and rest assuredly that OSHA will proceed with getting formal procedures in place. Blame the present administration for jumping the gun on this, but prepare by having safety protocols in place now.

By: BethRA

BethRA — Thu, 18 Nov 2021 19:12:44 +0000

In reply to Annie.

No, it doesn’t – federal contractors are covered under a different policy, although I’m not sure about the dates/deadline:

https://www.shrm.org/resourcesandtools/legal-and-compliance/employment-law/pages/coronavirus-federal-contractor-employees-must-be-fully-vaccinated.aspx

Also, the OSHA ruling doesn’t prevent private companies from instituting their OWN vaccine mandates.

By: Annie

Annie — Thu, 18 Nov 2021 17:07:03 +0000

I have coworkers that I think will be in for a shock when the Dec 6 deadline rolls around. They do not think that they have to comply with the vaccine mandates because OSHA isn’t going to enforce the ETS. But, our employer doesn’t need OSHA to back them, do they? My employer (large government contractor) stated that we all have to be completely vaccinated by Dec 6 or we would go on unpaid leave. The OSHA ruling doesn’t change this, right?

By: Elizabeth West

Elizabeth West — Thu, 18 Nov 2021 16:54:44 +0000

It’s a good idea to have a plan in place regardless. With climate change causing animal migrations and melting of permafrost, and our continued encroachment of and destruction of habitat (not to mention factory farming), more zoonotic and/or dormant pathogens are likely to emerge into the human population. They’re easily spread around the world in our global society. There WILL be more large-scale pandemics. In fact, I’m surprised we didn’t have one sooner. We can’t afford to forget about it—in terms of preparation, anyway. Businesses should keep what we’ve all been through in mind and incorporate it into their general safety plan to help protect workers.