Biden Issues Executive Order Calling on OSHA to Consider a COVID-19 ETS

President Joe Biden signed an Executive Order yesterday directing the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to consider issuing an emergency temporary standard (ETS) related to COVID-19 like the standard CalOSHA has issued, but stops short of mandating an ETS at this time. Instead, the Executive Order states that if OSHA determines that an ETS is necessary, OSHA must issue a standard by March 15.

The EO also directs OSHA to publish updated or revised COVID-19 guidance within two weeks, calls for a review of current OSHA enforcement efforts, and requires OSHA to launch a national program to focus OSHA enforcement efforts related to COVID-19 on violations that put the largest number of workers at serious risk. --SWAACA