ITASCA, IL -- The National Safety Council (NSC) states its disappointment with the Supreme Court decision to block the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) from fulfilling its mission of protecting workers on the job through the enforcement of the COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing Emergency Temporary Standard.
The statement further says:
Vaccines are the single most effective way to prevent severe illness, hospitalization, and death from COVID-19. With almost 850,000 Americans dead, the omnipresent threat of COVID-19 is clear: there has been and continues to be an immediate grave danger in the workplace.
“COVID-19 continues to devastate the American people, and employers must play a role in fighting this deadly virus,” said Lorraine Martin, NSC president and CEO. “Despite the Court’s ruling, we call on employers everywhere to take responsibility for the safety of their workers by implementing a requirement for vaccination or testing, and exhausting any and all proven safety countermeasures such as masking, frequent handwashing, improved ventilation systems, and regularly disinfecting work surfaces.”
For organizations in need of assistance, the National Safety Council, in partnership with the Health Action Alliance, has developed a decision tool for business leaders that provides specific guidance and addresses key questions and considerations for workplace vaccine requirements and other safety countermeasures.
For additional workplace vaccine-related information and resources such as reports, playbooks, webinars and surveys, visit https://www.nsc.org/workplace/safety-topics/safer/safer-home. |