Senator Baldwin Statement on OSHA Standard Protecting the Health and Safety of Over 80 Million Workers from COVID-19

WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin released the following statement on the announcement from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) that they are issuing a new emergency temporary standard (ETS) to protect an estimated 84 million workers from the spread of coronavirus on the job.

“Seventy percent of adults in America are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and 80 percent of adults have received at least their first shot. This new emergency temporary standard from OSHA will help protect the health and safety of workers and prevent additional outbreaks and further spread of COVID-19. Protecting Wisconsin workers is a top priority for me and we should do right by them by putting their health and safety first,” said Senator Baldwin.

The new ETS from OSHA would help protect the health and safety of workers at private sector businesses with 100 or more employees—or over two-thirds of the private sector workforce. The ETS requires that covered employers ensure their workers either be vaccinated or undergo weekly testing, with unvaccinated workers also required to wear masks when in the workplace. The ETS also requires employers to provide paid time off for workers to get vaccinated and recover from any side effects. The new workplace safety standard would go into effect on January 4, 2022. 

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