UPDATE: This mandate is currently being challenged in courts
Companies with over 100 employees will be mandated to require COVID-19 vaccinations for their workers or do regular testing, according to OSHA.
Unvaccinated staff will be required to wear masks starting Dec. 5 and will need to submit weekly test results by 1/4/22. Failure to comply with the new emergency temporary standard will lead to fines of up to $14,000 per violation for companies.
OSHA’s vaccine mandate rules
Here are some of the key facts about the ETS for private-sector employers:
- The new rule takes effect Jan. 4. By that day, employees must be fully vaccinated or face weekly testing. Anyone who tests positive must leave the workplace immediately.
- Unvaccinated workers who choose to get tested weekly must wear masks on the job at all times.
- The ETS will not apply to remote workers or people who work outdoors exclusively.
- Part-time employees and temporary or seasonal workers (not employed through a staffing agency) will be counted as part of the 100-employee threshold.
- Employers will be required to give workers paid time off to get vaccinated and to recover from any side effects, though they can put the cost of weekly testing onto employees.
- Workers can apply for religious or medical exemptions.
- Workplaces must begin offering time off for vaccination and start enforcing mask rules beginning Dec. 5.
You can read the full text of the rules here, and a summary here.
A SAFER Workplace Solution
As part of our suite of powerful tools contained with the Virtual Injury Prevention program, we offer our SAFER Workplace program to industrial companies looking for a COVID-19 solution for uploading vaccination cards and testing results.
Take the workload off your plate on trying to keep track of every worker, on every shift, at each location with SAFER Workplace.
And we can get you up and running in less than 24 hours. So... if you need an easier way to deal with new mandates, we are here for you.
What is SAFER Workplace?
As infected workers, showing symptoms or not, can transmit the virus easily in occupational settings, you'll need ways to:
- Track who has been vaccinated
- Survey employees for symptoms
- Record and access testing results
- Get alerts from the system
- View reports to identify trends
- Take actions to prevent spreads
Having a tool like SAFER Workplace in your toolbox will help you get through the pandemic. And it is all part of the Virtual Injury Prevention services we provide to help you keep workers safer, maintain or even improve productivity, reduce lost work days, and reduce costly medical consultations.